MUNICIPAL MATTERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2768, 11 May 1916, Page 9

MUNICIPAL MATTERS

SOME INTERESTING: REMITS/

At the next, meeting of the. Executive of the New • Zealand . Municipal Conference, to bo held on May 19, several remits ot more or less interest will be considered Grisborne has foiwhrded a remit askiji" that power be given to 'tho boroughs- to nil vacancies occurring on councils until the next ordinary election. .'V. ■ .. ■> m remit ■from Miraniar reads: "That a poll bo taken in pursuonco of a special order of the council of such-borough, and shall be taken 'within ijO' days 'after presentation to the council of a request in writing that a poll be taken,' signed bv not less than 10 per cent, of the ratepayers of such borough." ■'<■' On. .the- subject of kinematograph censorship, tho Auckland Council ias the following remit :-'.'That. the Government bo urged to take such steps as. may be necessary to establish a censorship of all kinematograph films-to be exhibited in the- Dominion. . .

HOSPIT.IL AND CHARITABLE AIH

Under tho heading- of :tho-Hospital and Charitable Aid Act, there : are four remits that will be found of interest-in view oi the big'annual increases in"hospita! and charitable aid expenditure. The ietono Borough' Council's far-reachiu" remit rcade as fbllows-.-"That 'the present method of levying locul bodies for the upkeep of hospitals and charitablo aid be discontinued, and that hospitals, etc., be nationalised, and the whole upkeep be met out. of gemral revenue, whole .treatment, etc.; to be free 6£ ■ ■ cost ! ■■ to patients, and the Government be -urged to bring down the necessary legislation to .give effect to same."

Wellington is- not quite so : Socialistic in .its requirements.' The City Council's remit asks: "That Parliament be asked to altor the method of'electing the' Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and that iu future each contributing' local body shall have the right of appointing a number" of members according to their contributing value." . Eastbourne's view is as follows:—"That tho present .system of finance of hospitals and charitable aid under- the Act of 1909, whereby ..the bodies which • collect. arid i supply the funds hav© no'control, either direct or indirect, oyer the expenditure of same, is unsatisfactory, as it tends to undue extravagance and encourages pauperisation." ■ ' . ... "VOTING : REMITS... Under the Local Electors and Polls Act, .Christchurch sends a remit suggesting compulsory voting at 'municipal and other local elections. Birkenhead (Auckland) seeks in a remit to prevent plumping at. an' election by insisting on the elector voting for the full number of candidates required., Greymouth suggests that a universal system of voting<should be adopted, to prevent confusion. Christchurch wants tho referendum. Its remit on the subject is as follows:—"That local bodies be given power to take a referendum on any . question ' they wish to submit to the electors, and further that any 10' per cent, of the electors should (with reasonable safeguards) be empowered to demand' a poll on any municipal proposal set forth in the requisition." /.;'.'., ■■■■■■>■■ REGULATING JS.OTOR TRAFFIC. ■• G.reytown .urges: "That a Dominion bylaw be passed regulating.; tho speed of motor vehicles'." Tho same council also 'wishes to make it compulsory that all motor-cycles should.bo, fitted with .'mufflers. .■..':■ . . ' There are also other remits 'niftier the Public W 7 orks Act, Rating ' Act, Town Boards Act, .and Tramways Act to be considered. , . .