CONFERENCE OF CHAIRMEN OF COUNTY COUNCILS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 795, 13 July 1877, Page 3

CONFERENCE OF CHAIRMEN OF COUNTY COUNCILS.

In our last week’s issue wo published tho suggested amendments of tho Counties Act, wo flow publish the suggested ‘ amendments of tho Public Works Act, tho Financial Arrangements Act, tho Rating Act, and tho Local Elections Act; also other resolutions, which may bo termed general, of tho Conference. PUBLIC WORKS ACT. , Section 85.—That provision should be mafic for vesting the control of bridges, situated partly in a Horougb and partly in a County, in one of such Corporations, and for allocating the cost of construction and maintenance of such bridges between tho County and Borough. Section 82 —That tho County Council should bo empowered to decide all disputes between Road Boards. Section 93.—That provision should bo made for tho stoppage of roads in Counties where there arc no Road Boards, and in outlying Districts of Counties. Section 97, sub-section s.—That after tho word “matter” the words “or any water, tailings, or sludge” should be inserted. Proviso to Section 97-—That informations or complaints should be laid by authority of the Chairman of tho Board. Section 98.—That the, words between “may” in tho third line and “ order” in tho fifth lino should bo omitted. Section 102 and 117.—That as other Counties may be prejudicially affected by any one County in its action on the question of tolls, the [Conference is of opinion that this question is one which should bo regulated or'y by the united action of the Councils interested. Section 173-4-s.—That in tho opirion of the Conference tho provisions of these Sections are of such a nature as to render their effectual carrying out by the County Councils impossible, and that the Councils should be relieved of the responsibilities thereby thrown upon them. Section 217.—That the power to vest water-races in Corporations of Counties should only be exercised by and with the consent of such Corporations. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS ACT. Section 21.—That revenue accruing from goldmining leases should bo the -revenue of the County in which such leases arc. situated, as appears to have been contemplated by sub-section 2 of Section 37 of the Rating Act, 1876, which exempts goldmiuing leases from taxation for local purposes. Section 23. —That more effectual provision should be made for the exact pajment of revenues accruing from fees, fines, &c., to the various bodies entitled to receive them. That fees accruing from auctioneers and hawkers’ licenses should he divided between the Counties and Boroughs in which such auctioneers and hawkers exercise their calling. Section 24.—That County Councils should be authorised to collect dog registration fees ; that the Otago Dog Nuisance Ordinance, 1862, should be amended so far as it relates to the collection of such fees by Police officers; and that the penalty imposed should be fixed at a maximum not exceeding 40s. RATING ACT. Section 22.—That the words “in each district” be omitted. (See recommendation Section 141 of Counties Act.) Section 37, sub-section 2.— I That in the event of the rents of goldmiuing leases not being granted as County revenue, tho exemption of such leases from local taxation should be abolished. Sub-scction 3,—That school buildings, hospitals, and charitable institutions should ho exempted from local taxation. Section 65.That the words “County Council” should be substituted for the words “ Road Board,” in the fourth and fifth linos. i LOCAL ELECTIONS ACT. Section 2.—That, to remove doubts, the interpretation of tho word “District” requires to be amended by the omission of the words “ and includes,” in line 2. RESOLUTIONS. 1. “That the various County Councils bo invited to consider the advisability or otherwise of reducing tho number of Counties, so as to induce greater uniformity of action and more economical management.” 2.—“ That, pending the receipt of answers to the foregoing Resolution, and any action that may he taken thereon, this Conference deprecates the efforts now being made in various quarters to increase the number of Counties by tho constitution of new Counties.” 3. —“That, so far as practicable, tho boundaries of Electoral, Licensing, Road, and Resident Magistrates’ Districts should bo made cn-tormiuous with tho boundaries of Counties, and that the County Electoral Rolls should bo also tho Electoral Rolls for tho House of Representatives.”