MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 299, 13 September 1919, Page 9

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

CONCLUSION OF BUSINESS. The conference of the Municipal Association of New Zealand concluded its deliberations yesterday. The Municipal Corporations Aet Amem'i. ment Bill; introduced, into the House of Representatives by the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luko),- was discussed by tho conference The provisions of tho Bill have already been made public. There was somo opposition to clause 7, which proposes to give power to united boroughs to raise all rates by way of a general rate. „ Miss Melville (Auckland), while not opposing the clause, suggested that tho united borough should strike one general rate- and one special rate, instead of a flat rate.

Jlr. B. G. 11. Burn, Mayor of Karon, said he heartily approved of the proposal to consolidate all rates. There was some opposition to clause 7, which reads: "So long as the rates.in a united borough are levied u'lidor tho provisions of this Act, the council of such borough may raise special loans for the purpose of waterworks, drainage, tramways,, and workers' dwellings by way of special order, and without taking tho steps prescribed in sections 8 to 12, inclusive, of, the Local Bodies.' Loans Act." Some speakers said it would be a dangerous practice to give such complete authority to municipal bodies, and would tend lo malte them automatic instead of democratic.

Mr. Luke said it was not desirable to leave decisions covering important essential works iii such a position that if a majority of .0110 among tho ratepayers voted against any proposal it was defeated. .However, he was agreeable, to the insertion of a clause providing for a poll if 5 per cent., of the ratepayers desired it. With that addition tho 8411B 4 11 received tho approval of tho conference It was decided that the Mayor of Wellington should again bo president of the association, the vice-presidents and the executive to be the same as heretofore. Mr. T. F. Martin was reappointed treasurer, and Messrs. Clark and Mcnzies auditors: It was decided to ask the Government (0 print the proceedings of the conference. ' The conference concluded with hearty votes of thanks to the president (Mr. Luke), the treasurer and legal adviser (Mr. T. F. Martin), and the Wellington City Council (for tho use of the tuuncil Chamber).