LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1439, 14 May 1912, Page 4

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

; I'BESENT BILL CONDEMNED AGAIN. i (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, May 13. A conference of representatives of "local i governing bodies was held this morning . to consider the Ideal Government Hi! I. < The' conference was convened by the ■ chairman of the Hospital and Charitable ' Aid Board (Mr. 1\ Horrell), and, at tho > request of the Minister for Internal Ai- ) fairs, Mr. Horrell presided. There was f a very largo attendance, those present ■ including representatives of every depart--3 ment of local government in North Con- • terburv. Mr. Ji. Heaton lihodes, M.l\, I and Jtr. George Witty, M.l\, were also • present. The following motion was carl f. ic( i —-This meeting of delegates, while j fully recognising the necessity ior an 1111I proved system of local government, and p nnmvciafiuc the action of the Government in summoning a conference at Wellington to consider the question, does not aj>provo of the Bill as at present drafted, but is prepared to send delegates, to \\ ellii'»toi» to confer with the Minister for Internal Affairs as to the manner 111 wlncii the Bill should bo amended. Seven delegates were appointed to repre- : sent the North Canterbury uistnct at i the conference. j Timaru, May l-'l. I At a meeting at South Canterbury local 1 bodies' delegates to-day, Mt*si».. W . - S Ma'slin and C. N. Orbell were appointed - to attend tho Wellington conference oil - the Local Government Bill. A resolution - was passed that while improvements m b the present laws would be appreciated, > Ihe Bill was not acceptable, mid its • adoption would increase Die cost and lesr con the efficiency oi loca!_ Government. Tile proposed inclusion of Waitaki County . i„ the South Canterbury Province was ,' p .,i(l io be a strange thing, us the two J districts had practically nothing whatever in common. The chairman of the meeting, Mr. I. H. ! GUliiiEham, condemned the whole measure , as undemocratic, and in no way accept- j ' a Other speakers said the hosnital and education management must suffer if the Bill was'adopted. Gisboi'ne, May 13. At a mooting of local bodies to consider !■ the Local Government Bill, the opinion was generally expressed that it wa<= un- '• workable. The changes foreshadowed were too violent, and the powers of local 1 bodies were greatly curtailed. Dr. Colo lins was appointed delegate to the confer-