COUNTY CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1836, 23 August 1913, Page 14

COUNTY CONGRESS.

THE FINAL SITTING.

BROAD RESUME BY CHAIRMAN.

MINISTER'S REPLY.

MOTOR TAX BILL PROMISED,

There was a considerable falling-off in the attendance when the Counties' Association Conference resumed yesterday fcr the fourth day. It had been, intended to complete the business in three days, and many delegates had, perforco, to leave by the noon train to tho north, which fact accounted for the sparse attendance. When the president (Mr. A. E. Jull) took his 6eat at 9.35 there were only half a dozen delegates in the room, and it was 9.50 before tho numbers present justified a resumption of business. The remaining remits were quickly disposed of, and tho rest of tho morning was devoted to the committee's report on Native rating and the Counties' Amendment Bill, which was introduced into the Houso on .Wednesday.. . Discussing a remit to legalise the taking of a tally on any road or bridge, so as to assist the commissioner in arriving at an. award, and providing tallies for giving false information, the president remarked that at present, when a tallyinan'asked for information, he wa9 liable to be told to "Go to th'o devil," which, a delegate added, was, in his experience, t'lo frequent reply.

Mr. "\V. J. Poison (Wanganui) moved that the Telephone Lines Act be amended so that counties might borrow money from the Government to erect such lines, or that they might borrow at a higher rate than 5 per cent., and that the period of repayments be extended from 12 to 20 years, ami complained that by that Act of 1912 what the Government gave with one hand they took away with the other. The rate, along with the sinking fuud, amounted to about 12 x>er cent., and as the law prevented them from borrowing money, at more than 5 per cent., and as it) was impossible at present to borrow at less than 6 per cent., the work was at a standstill.

. Mr. P. Horrell (Rangiora) thought that if the Government could not let them have tho money at 5 per cent; the work louptht to wait.

The' president spoke in favour of the remit, which was carried.

; Native Rating. The committee appointed to consider the remits dealing with Native rating recommended:—"That the conference shall reaffirm the policy of tho late North Island Counties Conference with tho Nativo . Minister, to place Natives and Europeans on the same footing as regards rating, as far as is practically possible; that the Native Land Courts or Maori Land Boards, as tho case may be, shall be compelled to 'supply on reasonable notice, from time to time, correct names of principal owners in.any blocks to tho county councils, and that more frequent meetings of the.former bodies be held in older that such information may bo given as correctly as possible; that Section 4, of tho Hating Amendment Act, 1910, bo amended to read: 'Where Nativo freehold land is vested in a Maori Land Board or' Public Trustee, the board or Public Trustee shall not) bp liable for any latea thereof in excess of the revenues received, oi- to be received, by tho board or Public Trusteo on .behalf of tho Natives interested lii the land, irrespective of the sourco of such revenue; and that all unpaid rates in respect of any slich land shall be a charge thereon in favour of llio local authority that levied the rate.' Mr. H. ICenway (Gisborne), chairman of the committee, moved the adoption of the report, remarking that It was not desirable to go too much into details. ' Mr. W. .1). S.'MacDonald, M.P. ;Whakatane), could see nothing in tho .report to object to, but complained that Clause 4 of the Act had not been dealt with in tho report.

Mr. Gow (Opotiki) thought the report gave a sufficient indication to the. Government as to what they wanted. Mr.-Scholes (Waitomo) held that the report did not) go far enough, and quoted tho remits referred to the committee which they had not dealt with'. ' Mr. Kenway, in reply, said tho committee had abstained from going into details, and the report was then unanimously adopted. u

Merging Road Districts. The president proposed that in order tu give.early legislative effect to the recommendation of the conferenco with reference to merging road districts, county councils might, on a petition oigned b.r 10 per cent, of the ratepayers, take a poll of the ratepayers upon the question of merging such district, and that such should be carried on ,thre6-fiftks of tho votes being in favour of such proposal, and explained that at present it was impossible in some districts to merge, even though 99 out of 100 ratepayers wero in favour. -\J The resolution waa unanimously agreed to, : ' Counties Amendment Bill. The conference then proceeded to discuss the Counties Amendment -Bill, which was introduced into Parliament on Wednesday last, and which, the president remarked/ contained many recommendations sent from that conference. The 25 sections were taken seriatim, and were agreed to with very little alteration.

With regard to the date of elections, it was rccommonded: "That tho conference,

having- suggested that elections should be held in May instead of November, consequential alterations ■be made in the Amendment Bill accordingly."

Mr, Martin (counsel to the association), in his report on the Amendment Bill, dealt with the cffect of tho various clauses. Ho explained that Clauses Sto

10 extonded the dates for preparing the electoral roll, which was to be prepared only in years when a general election was to be held, and substitute the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act respecting the connection and completion of the roll. The roll could bo amended from timo to time by the council, and appeals lay from the council to the magistrate. The roll was to be filosed on the 21st day preceding an election or poll, and a defaulter could get on tho roll by paying his rates before the roll ( was closed. Clause 11 provided for one roll for the whole county for polls taken over the whole county, no person's name to appear more than once. Clause 12 provided that travelling expenses might to allowed for attending committee meetings as well as council meetings, and for travelling on tho council's business when authorised by the council. Clause 13 en•abled a lump bum up to .£IOO to be devoted for "chairjjian's travelling expenses when he was travelling on. tho business of tho country. Clauso IB provided that ratos should bo levied separately: in each riding, according to its estimated expenditure, but that after the general expenses of the country as a whole, including tho cost of declared main roads had been provided for, tho balanco of tho total revenue of tho country should bo divided among the rulings, according t;o their rateable values. Where dill'erent rates were struck, one riding would got a share of another riding's rates, ltates would bo levied in ridings in accordance with tho expenditure required therein, yot tho money would go, in paft, to another riding. The attention of tho conferonco was invited to that point. Clause 17 enabled the council to striko a drainage* rato of Id. on the capital value, iti addition to a special rate as a drainage loan. Clauses 18 and 19 provided that both tho drainago rato and tho special rate should' bo leviod on a graduated scale -unless tho Minister was satisfied that all the lands would derivo equal benefit. Tho limitation of llio loan to 10s. per aero and of the special rate to six farthings (capital valuo) wero repealed. Clauso 20 made tho chairman of eacli comity council a .T.P. Clauso 22 substituted the provisions of tho Public Revenues Act as to surcharging. Clause 23 substituted "harbour works" (which expression was widely dif-f-tiil) for wharves and jetties. Clause 21 related to counties in which tho Act was not ill ojjcratioiL Clauan 25 eaablcd

the counoil to supply electricity for lighting and power to tho inhabitants. All' County Chairmen to be J.P.'s, Having disposed of 19 clauses, tho^president remarked: "Clause 20 makes a coUnty ciiairman a J.P." Mr. (Juin (Ettham): I don't think it should. A voice: Make him a lord. Tho president suggested that county clerks should also bo mado J.P.'s, remarking that he did not wish to detract from tho enormous honour of being made a ■T.P., but ho thought it would be most useful if county 'clerks, whose knowledgo of Statuto laws was of considerable value, should bo also' created J.P.'s. ' ' A delegate: I have never heard of a lady J.P., and our clerk is a lady. The president: Is thero any obstacle to a lady being a J.P. Mr. Gow (Opotiki): There are a great variety' of clerks. The president: And; there aro a great variety of chairmen. Mr. Bailey (Waikato): Yes, and there aro a great variety of J.P.'s. Mr. Gow thought they would bo making a great mistake to suggest that county clerks should be mado J.P.'s, and it was pointed out that though it was desirable that county chairmen should be put on an equality with Mayors of boroughs, they could not expect county clerks to be given the same honour before tho borough clerk'. The president: Very well, I will not pursue.it. Tho remaining sections were then agreed to. The president remarked that the Hon. H. D. Bell had shown himself to be very anxious to bo at tho disposal of tho delegates as far as his public duties permitted him, and it was usual for a deputation from that conference ito wait upon him so as to put before him a resume of their decisions, and so as "to extract from him a promise to do everything they wanted." (Laughter.) Mr. Bell was agreeable 'to meet the conference that afternoon, as ho put it, "to accept humbly the dictation of thei conference." Alterations of Rules, 'On resuming after lunch, the president announced that the executive committee had gone fcough tho rules as requested and had made various suggested alterations, which included that tho offices of secretary and treasurer be merged; that any person who lias filled the office of president for not less than seven consecutive years should bo mado a member of the executive. Ranger and Undertaker. Th'o president read a letter in which the writer objected to the ranger of the Hutt County Council acting in the dual capacity as ranger and undertaker. The writer added that recently the ranger was going along the road when die caught the writer's horse, and tied it behind his hearse with the rope with wheh he had just lowered a coffin into tho grave. In proof of that statement the writer enclosed a photograph. ■ (Laughter.) Election of Officers, Tiho conferonco then proceeded to elect officers of the assooiafcioii for the onsuiing year, and Mr. Quin (Ifltham) at once moved that Mr. Jul! bo re-elected as president, and Mr. Horrell (Rangiora) seconded, remarking that Mr. Jull represented the association from the Cape to the Bluff, and that they could not find a man more acquainted with local government. Mr. Bruce (Akaroa) supported, remarking that t'liey must put the request so forcibly that. Air. Jull would hot carry out his oxpressqfi intention of not standing. Mr. Quk: We'll mako him stand. .

Mr. Braco added that ho had.been associated with Mr. Jull on that executive for many years, and he could honestly say that he did not know any man in Now Zealand irtio could fill tho position of'president so well.' (Applause.) Mr. Jull had been in command during the time the question of the .new Local Government lii'll had been before them, and he ought to continue in command until that was completed, as thero was & fair chanco of it boing thrfflugh during tho next session. Ho Qiopocl to see him in a much higher position than president of that conference. Mr. W. Ritchie (Wostmere) said that as "tho big man with tho small voice" he on-' tircly 'endorsed all that had been said, as Mr. ".lull had a grasp of tho association's affairs which no ono else had.

A delegate expressed the opinion, ilhat the conference should ask Mr ilassey to put Mr. Jull into tho Upper House, as his experience and) knowledge of-local matters would be a (great help to either House. Tho president remarked that ho announced at the last conferenco, and also at the beginnig of this' conference, that he did not intend to seek re-election, 'as lio did not wish to monopoliso that position, but after tho remarks just made and the many requests mado to him pri"vately, ho felt it would bo churlish not to accept office. (Applause.) Mr. E. H. Rhodes (Woimato) hoped that before next year the president would visit the south. That was one blot on his capabilities—he did not know tho south. If ho only know: tho 6oiith he would bo perfect. Mr. Gow (Opotiki) proposed that the president be paid an honorarium of 50 guineas, and the secretary ono of 20 guineas. Mr. Staples (Waimari) seconded, and repeated the invitation to tho president to visit the south, addling "Wo can promise you a good fcimo." Tho president: I am a maraied man, you know. (Laughter.)

The motion was declared carried, after several delegates had spoken eulogistically of tho president.

Mr. C. J. Harpor (Ashburton) and Mr. J. G. Wilson (Bulls) wero appointed vicepresidents.

It was decided to alect fourteen members on tho executive oommittoe, seven from oach ida.id, and tho following were elected by ballot:—Messrs. F. Best (Nelson), H. J. Middleton (Wnimahaka), J. D. Bruco (Akaroa), C. N. Orboll (Levels), G. Livingstone (Waitaki), J. Grimmond (Wostland), J. H. Davison (Culvorden), to represent tho South Island; and Messrs. J. B. Gow (Opotiki), 11. J. Richards (Levin), H. J. Slade (Hobson), A. Sdholcs (Waitomo), G. V. Pearce, M.P. (Patea), T. M. Chambers (Havelock North), and Bailey (Waikato). On the motion of tho president, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Hon. W. Fraser and tho Hon. P. W. Lang (retiring vice-presidents), Mr. H. J. Richards (lion, treasurer), and the members of ths executivo committee. CONGRESS RESUME. '

' GIVEN BY THE PRESIDENT. The president then called attention to tilie results of the conference, and gave a brief resume of the effects of tho decisions of the conference. The most important factor, he said, was finance, and the matter of subsidy on rates had taken years before arriving at a solution.' They had uover beforo been able to present a proposal which the whole Dominion was in accord with. The principle was that the State should make a contribution towards the upkeep of all tho.roads in the Dominion, livery person had access to the roads, and it was felt that with the multifarious (iharges which the property owner had to bear 'it was-unfair that be should be the only person colled upon to bear i'he expense of upkoep of both the arterial and capillary roods. Hitherto thero had been no system, and the Government had been inundated far grants from all districts, irrespective of relative merits, and the conforciico thought they should be classified. The committee appointed to consider the reductions of local bodies recommended that tho number of countks tlhould bo lossaned, community of interests and natural boundaries being the first consideration. They rad affirmed the principle of an annual tax on mOtor-cars, but they had deferred until next year any disoussion as to how that should bo brought about. The Hon. H. D. Bell: I will make a proposal to you in that respect in the form of a Bill.

■ The president thanked the Minister for his promise, and also for tho Counties' Amendment Bill, which followed largely the proposals, submitted to the Government in tho past. Tho conference had also dccided that county council elections should lie held in May instead of November, and with regard to the merging of road districts, they suggested that on a petition by 10 per cent, of the'latepayers the county council should tako a poll, and if three-fifths of the votes were in favour, the road district should be merged. They had a great difficulty in persuading tho Public Works Department to consent to the oxchango or transfejence of. roads, and they often approached tho matter in such a.ridiculous v;ny as to deservo harsh treatment. Tho surveyors in the past had given them rouds wfiicli were only ließotkblo bv aeroplanes, "We aro not lads," addod tlio president, eome-

what warmly, "Wo don't mako applications unless we want them granting, and we resent the treatment frequently meted out to us by the Public Works Department. With regard to the very important question of tho rating of Native lands, a conference of the counties more particularly interested in Native lauds was held a few months ago, and that con-, ference set up a committee, whose decisions would be forwarded for liansmission to tho Cabinet. They had reaffirmed the opinions of the conference, which secured fTom the Minister the piomise to introduce a Bill to meet their appeal. They trusted that -more than a "pious desire" to help the counties would be the result, and that they would shortly bo in possession of powers which, whilst protecting tho Nativo land from any exploitation on the part of local bodies, nould be adequate to provide them with the means of securing a return from, the Natives where Nativo land was receiving tho lwnefit of tho roads. Tho president concluded by remarking that in his experience there had never been a (imo when they had reached such unanimity as they had at this conference. They had been doing a work for some years which led them to hope that they could now turn to the Government and say, 'These' aro mature considerations, wliich aro entitled to consideration, particularly seeing that they have at the back of them thb unanimous support of the representatives of the whole Dominion." MINISTER'S REPLY. The Hon. H. D. Bell congratulated the conference on having arrived at the end ;of their deliberations and remarked that at _ the first sitting ho asked for their opinions on questions which were of importance to anyone who was responsible for proposing amendments to tho law re-, lating to local government. It wa9 an easy thing to write a letter or draft a Bill, but it was a serious matter to propose any large alteration in the management of local affairs by the people themselves. That conference had cxpiessed its opinions, and lie offered his sincere thanks and those of tho Government. They were' fairly even, because in respect to motor traffic they wanted a lead from him, and he proposed to givo them it. He had seen the printed report of their deliberations, but it was one thing to say •what should l>e piven and another to say how mucli the Government was able to give. They had two funds—ths Consolidated. fund (which was revenue) and tho Publin Works Fund (which was loan money), and both were limited in amount. Upon both of those funds there were enormous claims. Tho revenue and tho expenditure were not so far from balancing as people thought when they fiw tho large surplus, because that surplus was' applicable to many matters which were charged to loan, and which tught to be charged to revenue. Expenditure in one respect could not be curtailed for the purpose of providing a balance for another purpose. He did not wish to address axiomatic matter to them by way of a lecture,, but they must leinember that they could only borrow 60 much a year, and of that amount so much was necessary for public works, advances to pettlers, advances to workers, tno building of schools, the extension of telepraph's, and so fortli. The amount available for grants was limited by the total amount the Government could borrow, and by the balance remaining a'ter the satisfaction of the other demands. In their resolutions with regard lo subsidy i here did not appear to be tiny fetimato ot what charge would result to the revenue. That estimate must be made before any answer could be given as to whether the Government was in a position to accept a3 tho basis of subsidy tho method they proposed. .• As to.tho method of classification he had the privilege of.

knowing the method adopted in Australia, and certainly tho proposals of the conference should liavo great .weight with the Government in submitting a basis of aid to bo given lo districts requiring something more than subsidy. The Government was not without intention to submit in detail a process for the simplieation' of local government'- and local administrations for the counties. 11 past Governments had given nothing but "pious desires,he hoped they would find that tho present Government would bring something more than mere piety to their table for consideration. As to the Counties' Amendment Bill, tho Government had attempted to carry out I he suggestions of the conference. He had had the greatest advantage of being some hour? at their sittings, and he honed and believed that they would be satisfied that their deliberations had far more than an academic result, and that they would see the practical fruit of their resolutions.

A, vote of thanks was accorded to the Minister on tho vote of the president, and the conference terminated shortly afterwards with a voto of thanks to tho press, on tho motion of Mr. Grimmond.