MATTERS MUNICIPAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1833, 20 August 1913, Page 5

MATTERS MUNICIPAL.

A meeting of the Executive and Legislation Committees of the Municipal Association of New Zealand was held at the Town. Hall yesterday. The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided, and there wore also present Messrs. C. Cathie (Karori), T. K. Sidey, M.P. (Dunedin), E. Fletelier (Wellington), A. J. M'Curdy (Tipper Hutt), W. Lock (Nelson), I. Holdsworth (Onslow), E. P. Bunny (Lower Hutt), J. M. Coradine (Marton), W. "<T. Thompson (Jcihnsonville), and T. F. Martin (se&et.ary). The chairman addressed a few word's of welcome to those present, and expressed the hope that the meeting (although of an executive character only) would do some good to matters connected with municipal government in New Zealand. When the Municipal Corporations. Amendment Act, 1913, was under consideration it was decided to recommond the deletion of Section 7, which provided for a ■reduction of rates for. stores and warehouses, and likewise tho deletion of Clause 9, providing that tho refuse rate should not be levied on certain properties.

An.- alteration to Section 21 of the same Bill was made, substituting tho word "ten" for. the word "two," and thus providing that a. street less than Gfift. in width may be 10 chains in length, when it is for the purposes of conSecting blind Streets with other streets.

Other minor alterations were also agreed upon.

A resolution was oarriod approving an alteration to the Auctioneers Act in order "to allow local body to inquire as to the character of the person whose name is endorsed on the licsnso as seller."

A resolution was carried protesting against the Government raising the interest on any loan during the currency of such loan.

On the motion of Mr. Cathie it was decided that Section 73 of Hie Rating Act, 1908, should be amended by the 6ubstituition of the words "three months" for the words "six months,".so as to improve the system of recovering rates from absentee owners. Under the present system, the Registrar of the Supreme Court cannot be notified of the matter under six months, and lie may not act in-ordering the solo of the property for a further six months.