MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1923, Page 4

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

i ! CONFERENCE DECISIONS. [liY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH,. July 18. A proposal that the Municipal Councils should have the right to elect their own .Mayors, without a separate election, provoked a good deal of discussion at to-day's sitting in the Municipal Association. A remit to that effect was .submitted by Wellington, Avondale. Tailpipe, Balelutha, Fox ton, llaworn, Taumantuui, and Eastbourne. The mover and seconder supported the remit on the grounds that a Mayor Hiiould have Council experience, and also that at times, when three candidates stand for office, the services of the two defeated candidates are lost to the Council. 'Jiie remit wr- defeated The following remit came from Devon jort : ---“That. in order lo assist in the continuity of policy, provision be made for one-thrd of the Councillors to retire annually, and that the Council be elected fur a period of three years, 1 instead of two years, as at present.” The Chairman moved an amendment —‘'That it he u tecotnmcndation that Lucre should ho n triennial election for Mayor and Council.” The amendment was adopted. CHRISTCHURCH, July IS. At the Municipal Conference .Mr 11. h. Tapley (Dunedin) moved: That the Government be asked to expedite the passing of the .Motor Vehicles Bill, providing lor the Dominion registration of motor vehicles and the drivers thereof. In doing so. he said the Bill had been before Parliament a considerable time, and local bodies had a right to know what was being done. _A remit was carried with regard to the payemut of councillors. Mr A. I.eose. on liehall' of Taumartinui. moved that Councillors lie paid a reasonable fee for the time occupied on the Council's business. This was carried, on the voii es. .Mr F. J. Nathan, on behalf of Palmerston North Borough Council, moved mat local hollies be empowered lo classify any of their workmen who arc wall on in years and who arc inenpa .e of performing a lair day’s work, and to pay such workmen a wage commensurate with the amount of work p-ei formed.

Rev. J. K. Archer (Christchurch! said this remit was one with which they ail sympathised, hut there was a certain amount of risk, against which they had to safeguard themselves. He understood that, under the Arbitration Court there was provision for timlerlate workers. The principle was recognised, ami they should ho able to carry n out under the existing law. The motion was carried by 28 votes to 11. A number of remits were dealt with in regard to voting and polling booths on behalf of Mr.sterton. Matanmta. I'ahiaina. Palmerston North, i’atea. St. Kildi, Taihape. Touranga, WaipukDrau. Wanganui. Westport, and Wliangarei. Mr 0. N. C. Piegnall moved that voting at Borough elections be similar to Hint in Parliamentary elections, hv striking out the names of the candidates on the voting paper for whom the voter does nni intend to vote, instead of placing a cross opposite tile names of the candidates for whom the voter intends (o vote, as at present. Mr If. 1.. Tapley (Dunedin! moved t leu in conned ion with the above remit. the method of voting be uniform at all polls, either by marking out. or

Tito Aoehlnml (lelemites lavuiir* it iho cross system. The remit was carried. Mr A. Bain i Invercargill) moved: That, owing to the fluctuating dates of tile Fas! or holidays, and to the fact that Auzrir Day occurred -so near the date fixed for the municipal elections, it lie a rccummemltaimi to the Government to make the said election fall on the second Wednesday in May. instead of on the last We'lne-day in Ap'il. The remit wa- carried. Mastorton submitted Hie Following: Thai this Council strongly urges the Audit Department to arrange for an audit of all .Municipal body accountwithin three months of the end of the financial year: or otherwise that they he asked to appoint an independent auditor. The remit was adopted. CIIRhSTUnUBCH. July I!). A letter was submitted to the .Municipal Conference to-day from the New Zealand [.oral Bodies' Officers' Guild, asking for a resolution from the Association approving of the formation of the guild. Mr T. Forsyth (Wellington) said the local hotly officers in Wellington had been unfavorable to the formation ol the guild. It was moved that the letter be received. Tne Rev. J. K. Archer moved tiiat the letter lie received and approved. Surely, lie said, no one in this 2b'Lii. century would ignore trade unionism. The heal body officers were entitled to freedom of action, and lie thought that to merely receive the letter would he to exhibit antagonism to the guild. .Mr H. L. Tapley (Dunedin) said the local inidies were considered to be model employers. lie thought a guild was objectionable. Local bodies should not I ■ dictated to, and told what salaries they were to pay their office!s. If they secured fin incompetent man. the guild would oppose his dismissal. Mr li. B. Witty (Eastbourne) seconded the Rev. Mr Archer's amendment. Mr Dash (Rangiora! suggested the conforome approve of the idea of the guild, without actually approving of the formation of the guild. Ali'-s E. Melville said she could not vote on a subject the information regarding which was so sparse. The 'amendment was lost on the voices, and the motion was carried. The letter, consequently was received.