COUNTIES CONFERENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2128, 10 July 1907, Page 3

COUNTIES CONFERENCE

Press Association. WELLINGTON, yesterday. The annual Counties Conference opened here to-day, delegates being present from all parts of the colony. Mr. A. Jull, the president, in his address, said the present Counties Act left much room for improvement, a fact which was evidenced by the feelin" of dissatisfaction manifested in various parts of the country by the subdivision’ of existing counties. To his mind, one contributing cause was tile present method of distribution of Government subsidy, which gave twice the amount of subsidy in the £ to counties which collected up to £IOOO in rates, as against those counties which collected over £2OOO, and in the case of counties consisting partly of road boards and partly of riding districts a still greater reduction irrespective of whatever rates were collected. For many years the association had endeayored to secure more equal apportionment of subsidy, and a graduated system, based upon tb ) amount of rates struck, had been recommended to the Government. After reviewing various Acts affecting counties, the cligijnian stated that it was hoped that measures would be passed which would reflect credit upon tho Government and be a monument to the efforts of the New Zealand Counties’ Association.

The conference spent the afternoon ia considering the Local Government Bill. Clause 25 was struck out. It was .resolved that no elector should be allowed more than three votes. The clause which makes the* whole council go out of office every three years was passed, and the clause providing for expenses of members attending council meetings was approved.