Worries Of Cities And Boroughs Discussed

Chronicle (Levin), 17 February 1949, Page 6

Worries Of Cities And Boroughs Discussed

Press Association)

(Per

NA-PIER, Feb. 16. Inereased borough valuationus whicli meant substantial rises in Iiospital levies although the Jevics were stabiJised at a halfpeniiy in the pound sterling on capital value, was t.he subject of comment at fthe Munieipal Assoeia tion conferencc. A remit advocating that tlie levy sliould be lixed on,. 194t. values wheu the new system caine into force, was moved by Mr. W. P. Hart stonge (Mosgiel) 'who said valuations' had risen in many cases by 75 to 100 per tent. Iiospital levies had risen accordingly so that they had not been truly stabilised. After other speakers submitted tha'the new system wa^ as equitabler as possible, the remit was lost. The confereucc adopted a remit advocating an amendinent in the Rating Act to permit hospital rates to be levied on the capital instead of the un improved values. Maori Rates. The present uijsatisfactory system 'of collecting Maori rates, many of whicli were unpaid, caused criticism of Goverinnent policy to be voieed. Tlie Government is to be asked to make compromise pavm(;nts 1'orthwith to qompeusate local bodies for unpaid rates uu-1 a request i'or the implementation of alterations to the existing method oi' collecting rates, is also to be made. A remit to this elfect was adopted on the motiou of Mr. K. W. Lovv (To Kaiti) who said oue of the greatest. domeslic problems I'acing Kew ZeaJanil was Ihe future oi' the Maori- race. G the present rate of increase in the .Mauri population was maiutained, they would oiitmmiber the Europeaus in 5" years. "The Governnient policy is l.o granl tliem equaJ status and equal rights but overlooks the l'act that theru tiro no rights without corresponcJing obligations, ' ' he said. Cheaper Money? A m o \e -that the Governnient be asked to arrange through the lieserve Hank for loan moneys to be made avail

able to munieipal authorities for nontrading caiiital worlcs at 2 jier cent interest or less, received a mea'sure of support. However, after" the xiresident, Mr. W. Apxileton, pomted/Out tliat the Governnient itself coultf not raise ' money at less than 3 per cent., tlie remit was lost. Rates on Crown Lands. • Tlie attitude that tlie Government sliould jiay full rates 011 all properties ow'ned by the Grown, was strongly uclvunced. It was felt that local bodioe were virtuaily subsidising the Crowr for feltate housing and Governnient building projects. Four remits cover ing different aspiects of tlie matlej were approved. but were referred te tlie exeeutive for furtlier consideration. Possession of Houses. So tliat local bodies can sejciire pos session of houses owned by tliem and occupied by former employees who ro fuse to sliii't from the Jiouses after leaving the employ of a local body, ellorts are to be made to liave houses owned by local bodies exeuipted from the provisions of .the Tenancy Act. Delegates declared tliat many bodies were iinding it imxiossible to secure xiossession of houses owned bye tliem. It was said that applications througl. legal chanuels were . being disniissevf despite a provision of the Act whicli was only enacted last year to cover tuis point. Worker Representation. Uneasiness caused by recent legislalion i>roviding seats 011 iiari/our Gourds for representatives oi' the ( Waterside Workers' Union, was the cause of the association carrying a remit seeking assurance i'roni the Government that it was not the iiitenUon 10 inqiose non-electivc iiiembers on aiunicipal councils. "At the present lime Ihe Tramvvay Workers' Union is >eeking Lo evade the jurisdiction of Ihe ! Arbitrution Gourt and has been inllu-cn-ed to hold iilegal stox'vvork meetings throughout tlie country, " said Mr. II. 11. Jack (Wanganui) when nioving ihe adojition oi the remit. "The possibility tliat this or any other sueh uulustrial lawlessness might be rowarded by representatives of this oi any other sucli union being ealapulted 011 to city or borough councils by Gov enuuent actiou, over the heads oi' the electors, is vievved vvith alarm. "

"Want to See Cliurcliill. The Government is to be-requested to invite Mr. Winston Churchill to visit New Zealand. Mr. W. Appleton said Mr. Anthoiiy Lden had ' been given a" wouderiul recc'iiLiou and he was sure Mr. Churchill would be just as welcome. Legislation enabling nmnicipalities to sxiend money on any activity for the betteiment of the comiuunity, is to be sought. it nas stated that the legality of expeiuliture on salaries 'of qiubiicity oflners or exx»unsion and develoximent connaiitees, was in doubt. On tlie suggestion. of the presuipnt, Mr. Appleton, the i.iotiun aJso included the taking of land adjoinihg a borough for the use of a park or sportsground. Higher Penalties. Iligher penalties for offonces under the Munieipal Corporation Act is being souglit. It was decided to recomniend to the Minister of Iuteriiai Ailairs that the luaximum poualty for 'oll'ences under the Act be increased Iroin to £5U. Mr.' E. H. Andrews (t.'liristcliurch) said that the- present penalties were not large enough to actus a deterr'ent. It was made clear that the recomnioiulatioH did not apply to trailie oilcnces which were dealt with under a separate Act. The conferenee also 1'avoured a wider appli'cation 01 ihe provisions for continuing ofEences vvilh a suggestion that the erection of buildings without permits comc under this ciassilication. A remit dealing with tliis was referred to the exeeutive.