CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2560, 22 June 1882, Page 3

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES.

A oonferenoo of the members of various I Boad Boards in the disfriot north of the Waimakariri and members of the Ashley County Council was held in the Mandeville and Bangiora Boad Board office on Tuesday. Present —Messrs K. L. Higgins, J. D. Lance, H. P. Lance, W. B. Parkerson, T. Paehby, B. Coup, H. Blaoketti, J. Ingram, G. Bruere, J. Addinell, E. Mulcook, W. Nioholls, O. D. Orossley, B. Hopkins, G. Bailey, W. Anderson, D. Dick, J. A, Cunningham, and A. Moderate. On the motion of Mr Higgins, seconded by Mr J. D. Lanoe, Captain Parsons, chairman of the Mandeville Boad Board, was voted to the chair. The meeting proceeded to consider the circular of the Hon. Colonial Treasurer of May 13th, having reference to the propriety of introducing in the ensuing session measures to improve the position of looal governing bodies, and to give them financial assistance in the prosecution of publio works. The answers to the ciroular were agreed to as follows :—l. The county chairmen should not be eleoted as mayors are. 2. Counties should not be enabled to amalgamate or alter boundaries without consent of Parliament. 3. The road districts should form the ridings. 4. No alteration was suggested in election of county councillors, 5. No new duties should be imposed or new powers oocferred on counties in respeot of making by-laws, 6. The counties should cot be enabled to create new road diitricts or alter existing ones of their own motion, except on petition of a majority of the ratepayers. 7. That the counties or road boards should not have the power of altering the divisions and the numbers of the members of the road boards. 8. That the rating powers of oounli'.-s remain ai at present. 9. That the rating powers of road boards should remain. 10. That if the operation of the Counties Act is suspended in any county, the Rjad Board should be enabled to exercise the powers of the Drainage and Bivers Boards, as at present hold by the County Council. 11. That Boad Board members should hold office for a fixed time, and should retire as at present. 12. That the Boad Board chairmen should not be eleoted as Mayors. 13. That Boad Board eleotions be conducted as at present. 14. That no reply be made to the question asking for suggestions on the Biting Bill, as sketched in the circular. 15. That no reply be given as to the provisions of the Boads Construction and Crown and Native Lands Bating Billß. 16. That the meeting has no suggestions to make generally to the matters dealt with in the circular. A considerable amount of discussion took place on the question of drainage, with powers being granted to the Bead Boards. In reference to question 10, the most important amendment made during the meeting, which, however, was not carried, was made by Mr Ingram—- " That the Boad Boards should be entitled to exorcise all the functions and duties of the Counties Act, and Part VII. of the Publio Works Aot, 1876, with the exception of charitable aid, and in this case the Boad Board or such lceal body should havo power to send patients to any hospital, and their cost charged directly to the Board, and that other oharitable aid be dispensed directly by the Board or looal body." On the motion of Mr Mulcock, seconded by Mr J. D. Lance, it was resolved —" That the replies to the various questions as generally agreed by the various members and Ashley Council to be forwarded to the Government." A vote of thacks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.