MUNICIPAL CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2205, 18 July 1914, Page 3

MUNICIPAL CONGRESS

THE FINAL DAY ELECTION OF OFFICERS The biennial conference of the Municipal Association of New Zealand camo to an. end yesterday morning. The President (Mr. J. P. Luke) occupied tlio chair. The following is a record of the final remits passed:— Municipal Corporations Act, 1908, S. 108.—That Section 108 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908, bo amended to enanlo a Municipal Council to transfer to the General Account tho surplus from any, separate account showing the moneys accruing from any undertakings controlled by the council.—(Dunedin.) Valuation of Land Act, 1908.—That it Iβ expedient that tho Government Valuation of Land Act ehould be redrafted and simplified and that it should be provided that in every year tho rates should bo levied on the old roll as amended to March 31, and that norevieion should so far as rates are concerned take effect until 'April 1 next ensuing.—(Wellington.) ' Private Streets and Ways.—That as tue legislation as to the maintenance and construction of privato' streets and private ivays is unsatisfactory legislation should be passed authorising councils, to deal with these matters on the lines of the Local Government Act, 1903, of Victoria.—(Wellington.) . Lighting.--Testing Gas-meters.—That legislative power be given to municipal councils to appoint inspectors to test gas-meters belonging to privato "as companies.—(Ch'risfcohurch.) Railway Crossings.—That all fences that shall bound any road upon which there shall be a level railway crossing shall for a distance of four chains on both sides of the line of rails at such crossing and on each side of such road be so constructed, with picket or other open fencing material not more than three feet six inches in height and that no live, close boarded or close iron fence shall be allowed or permitted to remain.—(Marten.) Power of Crown and Native Lnnd Boards.—That legislation be given effect to whereby Crown or Native ' land boards, shall have power to refuse the transfer of any sections (that are liable to rating by any local authority) pending a certificate from the clerk of the retentive'local authority thsit all rates JiaYe been paid.— (Taumarunni.) Partition of Native Townships.—That a Partition of all Native Townships be executed by tho Government, and that a tribunal (whoso decision shall be final) be,set up.for this purpose.—(Taumaruimi.) Officers' Expenses. On the motion of Mr. F. T. Bellringer (New Plymouth) it was resolved to take steps to have the expenses of town clerks and other officers attending, the conference, and also tho local bodies' contributions to the association, made chargeable to the general revenue instead of to unauthorised expenditure. At present only the expenses of councillors aoting as delegates are so chargeable. ' Election of Officers. The whole of the officers who were elected two years ago were reappointcd. They are as follow:—President, Mr. J. P. Luke, Mayor of Wellington; vicepresidents, the Mayor of Auckland, the Mayor of Ghristchurcli, the Mayor of Dunedin, the Mayor, of Nelson; Executive Committee, the Mayor of Petone, the Mayor of Lower Hutt, tho Mayor of - Palmerston North, the. Mayor of Karori, the Mayor" of On slow, the Mayor of Maeterton, Councillor A. PL Hindmarsh, M.P. (Wellington), representatives from the Town Boards of Johnsonville and Upper Hutt; secre'tarv, 4 lflgal_ adviser, and treasurer, Mr. T. F. Martin. I ■ Felicitations. The conference concluded with allround felicitations Mr. H. Holland (Mayor of Christchurch), moved a vote of thanks to the president (Mr. J. P. l.uke). Mr. Henry Davis (AsTiburton) moved a hearty vote of thanks' to the Wellington City Council for the use of, its Council 'Chamber. The President" (Mr. Luke) paid a tribute to the services rendered to the association by Mr. T. F. Martin (secretary), who was known to and respected by every local body throughout the Dominion. Mr. Luke also mentioned the services rendered by_ Mr.-Martin, jun., and made a flattering roferenco to-the grasp of local government' affairs possessed by Miss Melville (of Auckland), the only lady delegate. Tho 'Government was also heartily thanked for having in tho past printed the official report of .the proceedings free of cost, and tho hope was expressed that it would, continue to do m>. ■ The following additional remits were passed for Thursday's sitting:— Powers of Local Bodies. Trawling.—That the Government be •requested to amend this session the Municipal Corporations Act, empowering city councils and boroughs to purchase : fishing trawlers, with full power to carry on and engage in the fishing fndustry, with the object of supplying the community'with a fresh and cheap fish, food, which abounds ,on our coasts, thus tending to reduce the cost of living to the neoplo.— (Wellington.) Setting Back Frontages.—That Section 117 be repealed, or in the alternative, that it_be amended, so as to give local authorities tho richt to approve of tho dedication.—(Wellington.) Power to tar and snnd or asphalt or concrete on petition of half tho frontage and charge all frontagees half.—(Dannoviirko.) Local Authority to Administer Ant.— That the Noxious Weeds Act. bo amended so as to give local authorities power to compel ythe eradication of nox'oiis weeds growing in their districts. This power is at present vested in Government Inspectors, but it. is impossible for them to proporly carry out the powers veafed in them, imd it, is considered that such powers shpu'd bo vest-' ed in'thi. local nu*hnritv.—flMsnn'.} IVriarfcment. to Pnll Down Condemned Buildings.—That the law in resneet to the pulling dwvn of condemned buildings be amended bv thwiiw th" on"s of doinsr so en to tho Public Health Denirtmflnt-. .Under the present svsteni the health officer condemn* a hivldir", and the local hodv has to so to all the I trouble and often entailing hepvy .lesrnl fr>es. of carrying out his wishes.—fOnfihiincO ' S"p.ind-hniid Timber.—Th,it_ local bodies be givon power to prohibit the . impnrtot.inn of srwvnri-liiiifl timber into their distriots.—(Raatboiirne.) i Municipal Works. Supplies by Members.—That members ! of the Town Boards bo permitted to participate in any contract or work to be dono, or to supplV goods to tho board, if the payment of any such contract, work, or supply does not exceed £5 for any one contract, work, or supply, . or £10 altogether, in any one year.— (Rnetihi Town Eoard, Otano Town : Board.) J ■ . Public Works Aot. ! Time-Limit for Compensation Claims. ! —That all claims for compensation for I land taken under the Act shall be i lodged within two years from the date of the proclamation instead of five years as now provided.—(Napier.) That a by-law be made in pursuance of Section Si of the M.C. Act Amendment Act, 1910, prescribing the minimum frontage and area of an allotment of land on which a dwellingliouse may he deemed to bo in conflict irith the I provisions of Section 04 of the M.C. i Aci;. 1908. relating to open space.—(St. ! Kilda..) " Public Health. Notice',of. Infectious Diseases'.—That, i the Public Health Act be amended to

provide that in. cases where a local authority is undertaking its own sanitary inspection, notices under the Act relating to infectious diseases which may bo caused by insanitary conditions shall bo also given to such local authority.— (New Plymouth.) \ Forwarded by Hon. H. D. Bell for an expression of opinion and approved:— Municipal Control of Milk.—The following resolution was passed by the Church Socialist League, Christchurch, and is supported by the following societies and medical practitioners:— "That it is of vital importance to the health of the community that the distribution of milk should be under muni-, cipal control."—G. J. Blackmore, M.D., and 50 other doctors and 16 societies or Christchurch. ■Model By-laws.—That the Government be requested to prepare a, complete set of model by-laws for local bodies to be embodied in an Act of Parliament and so that any of such by-laws may: be adopted by any local body by special order.—(Hamilton.) Stock to be Slaughtered at Abattoir of the District.—That, where a local authority has provided an abattoir under the Act, all meat offered for sale in the district of such local authority shall be slaughtered at such abattoir; or, as an alternative, that all," or a reasonably portion of the local abattoir charges, shall be paidto tho local authority controlling such abattoirs upon all - meat offered for sale in a district' where an abattoir has been established, but which has- been slaughtered out of ■ such district. ; Sale of Pigs.—That the Act he amended to prohibit the sale of pigs for human consumption ; unless they have been slaughtered at a registered abattoir or passed by tho inspector.—(Palmerston North.) Electoral. ._ Date for Election of Board.—That the time of election of members for' Town Boards should be altered so as to come in line with the elections of Borough Councils, as tho beginning'of the financial year is a more suitable time than September.—(Ellerslie Town Board.) . Date for Electors' .Boll.—That a further amendment be made to Section 16 of tho Town.Board's Act, 1908, to provide that the electors' roll shall only be required to bo prepared during the year in which a general election of members tako place, and that the time the- roll is to bo prepared be altered from "the month of April" to '"the month of July." (Thus avoiding the necessity for such a large supplementary roll.)—(Gonvillo Town Board.) • • , Election of Harbour Boards.—That this conference offers a vigorous protest against the proposal contained in the Harbours Amendment Bill, 1914, recently circulated, by which a large additional part • of the cost of electing members of Harbour Boards is cast on the ratepayers of the local district in lieu of Deing borne by the Harbour Boards.—(Dunedin.) Miscellaneous. Civil Servants . and Local Bodies.— That the attention of the Government ment be drawn to the injustice , now placed upon boroughs like Petono .through the regulations" which forbid railway . employees and civil . servants from taking an active part in local body matters, and that the Government be requested to remove the restrictions so may take' a'seat on local bodies. —(Petone.) llates by Domain Boards.—That Domain Boards be prevented from striking rates on land in any borough for the upkeep of a domain not within-that borough without the consent of the Borough Council concerned.—(Spreydon.) i ' Classification of Lands.—That the River .Boards Act be amended to permit of a Magistrate reviewing the classification of any or all lands within tho area of "A," "B," "C," or "D," provided that not less 'than ten ratepayers males a joint objection to the said classification.—(Palmerston North.) Notice of Meetings.—That three olear days' notice be sufficient for Town Board meetings.—\Hampstead Town Board.) Notice, of Speciil, Meetings.—That Section 31, Town Boards Act, 1908, requiring seven .clear days' notice to be given of special meetings be amended so as to provide that only three clear days' notice bo required, ■ the same as under the Municipal Corporations Act. —(Gonville Towii Board.) The conference adjourned until 9.30 a.m. to-day. ' / '' THE REJECTED REMITS. Several remits—quite a sheaf, in ifact —were thrown out, withdrawn, or struok out, and for reasons of space cannot be detailed. VISIT TO THE PRIME MINISTER. A SUPERANNUATION. BILL. A large deputation from the Municipal Conference waited on the Prime Minister (the Right, Hon. W. F. Massey) lost night.- . ■ The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke) set' out the various proposals which had come before the conference. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr. Holland) ■ emphasised the fact that the remits considered had first of all been before tho local bodies, and considered by them. Those that commended themselves to the conference were carried. _ Superannuation was one of the most important matters considered, and he thought that it would be an act of sound government to see that the local bodies' employees were admitted into the National Provident Fund. They were as much public servants as any others. Mr. Michaels (Auckland) laid stress on the importance of the Government giving' assistance to municipal authorities to engage in the fishing industry, with the idea of fighting the present rings. With reference to the superannuation scheme, it should be made compulsory to local bodies to join. Mr. T. F. Martin, solicitor to the Municipal Association, and other members spoke. Mr. Massey's Reply, In reply, Mr. Massey said that ho was pleased to hear that tho conference had been a complete success. So far as the important matters they had brought before him were concerned, they receive oloso consideration from the Government, and especially from Mr. Bell, the Minister of Internal Affairs. The subject of superannuation, he said, was a prominent one. The matter had already been considered by Cabinet, and a Bill was already prepared. . (Hoar, hear.) > Just as had been suggested, it would bo an amendment to the National Provident Fund. He would' like to know whether tho conference was unanimous with regard to compulsory superannuation. Mr. Luko said the conference was practically unanimous. The general feeling was that it should be on a compulsory basis, but a ■•few of tho smaller boroughs felt that it might be too, much for their finances. Mr. Massey said that the Bill was almost ready, and would come before Parliament this.session, probably in a week or two. He was not able to say whether they would be able to make it compulsory or not. Turning to other matters, Mr. Massey , said he supposed that they had considered the licensing of. motor-cars. ' Only that day a Bill had been submitted providing for tho licensing of motor-cars, and the larger portion of the funds would go to the local authorities. As to the suggestion of assisting local bodies in the fishing industry; as mado by Mr. Michaels, ho was pleased to hear it made, but he would point out that the Government's time was somewhat limited this session. In consequence they might not be ablo to do as much as they would like in the way of legislation, but what they could

not do tliis session they would do when they camo back to Wellington next session. (Applause.) The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher said that a difficulty in tho way of a superannuation scliemo, as suggested, had been the fact that many of the council employees were connected'with Friendly Societies. Thoy had now arrived at a solution of the difficult;?. . Mr. Michaels: The scheme w© would like would not bo at all to the Friendly Societies. •_ Mr. Fisher: This will not. Mr. Luke, before leaving, expressed the conference's appreciation of the manner in which Mr; 801 l always assisted: municipal legislation.