COUNTIES CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1926, Page 1

COUNTIES CONFERENCE

MAIN HIGHWAYS’ MAINTENANCE. [BY TKLKGKAI-H—PEK PitEoS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, July 20. The Counties Conference has opened. Mr dull presiding. The attendance was over one hundred, from all parts of New Zealand. . Mr Jull said that after a full year’s experience, it was seen that the finance of the Alain Highways Board would permit of an increase ill the contribution. The Board was giveh power to increase the amount' £ for £, which was paid last year. It had been found that as the counties became more alive to the benefits accruing from the Board’s contributions they also increased their expenditure with great benefit to the main highways. Taxation from motor traffic was steadily increasing, and the demand of the roads for maintenance was also proportionately greater. He was sanguine enough to believe that still greater contribution could with safety be granted by the Bet ml. if legislative authority was obtained. In regard to the complaint relating to alleged high administrative- costs of county councils, he took the opportunity of going into the matter rather closely, ami was able to show that the published statistics, because of the misleading method of compilation, did not disclose tlio true position. The Statistician has expressed a desire to have the tables more accurately compiled. Air Jull trusted that county councils would undertake on their part to give every facility to Hie accuracy obtained.

Arising from a motion to lamend the Auctioneers’ Act to provide that license fees bo paid to the county council in whose district the auctioneers transact the. bulk of their business, tlio chairman's suggestion that there should be an apportionment at the close of the year, similar to the heavy traffic foes, was adopted. An (alteration from 25 per cent, to three-fifths of tlio persons qualified to vote, in the ease of a petition for inclusion in a borough of a portion of a county was carried, also a motion that in any poll upon a proposal to include part of a county in a borough, ejaoh elector shall have and may exercise the number of votes lie would bo entitled to under Section 30 of the Counties Act, 1020 at election of member of the council. Mr Jv. AY. Dalrymple (Rnngitiki) brought forward a. remit to repeal Section 57 of the Counties Act, wiiich disfranchises the electors who have not paid their rates.

Tho Chairman contended that, in -many cases, tho fault of not collecting the rates was that of the County officials. A mail should never bo prosecuted twice for the same offence. If lie didn’t pay his rates, he was fined 10 per cent, which was a hefty fine to impose on a fellow who possibly had not the money to pay his rates. The present practice, involved sending out a defaulters’ list to the polling stations. If a man had been elected a member of a council and had not paid his rates, lie could still sit and vote away money, which a ratepayer 'who had paid his rates was debarred from. To prevent electors from anting at elections was to throw them back to the dark ages.

Air C. Johnson (Raglan): If it was confined to European residents, I would support it. Mr Dalrymple agreed to accept such a limitation. The remit was rejected by a large majority. Air L Webb. (Whangarei). moved that the Counties Act and the Afotor Vehicle Act be amended so ns to empower county .councils to impose a license fee on all motor vehicles under two tons laden weight, used for hire and for commercial purposes, in return for their uso of the county roads. This was carried.

Mr L. Dalrymple, (Rangiteki), moved that legislation by regulation in regard to county administration be minimised : ns far as possible. Ho said it was a principle that was undesirable. Ho instanced the motor buses’ regulations as an example. The remit was carried. A remit was carried that, ail ellort h© made to obtain statutory powers for county councils to secure separate banking accounts in respect to depreciation of machinery accounts, and IP' replacements. There were several limits to the same efi'ert, all being embodied in one. It was nointed out that certain Councils hhd built up depreciation funds to the amount of several hundreds of pounds, but in the event of a change in the Council at an election, there was nothing to prevent tlio new Council spending the money for any purpose. It was considered desirable that such funds should bo protected for that, purpose. A motion to send a delegation to the Legislative Council to oppose the Daylight Savings Bill was mooted at the conference of the Counties social ion to-day.

The motion emanated from Alt’ I’. F. Ryan, of Paparua, who said the fact that the Bill had passed the Lower House on me like a thunderbolt to the Canterbury people. It was now time that sensible people took a hand in the matter. Tf this bill passed the Legislative Council, it would make r, tremendous difference to the fainici. Hon. Air Aldntyre, (Buller), suggested that representatives should be appointed to make their objections to tho Legislative Council. Air AY. AY. Scarf, (Hwithcoto), said that he could r.ot see what damage the Bill would do to the farming community. It would simply set the clock back one hour. They would work accordin'! to the clock. Mi- E. Bowman, (Southland), opposed" the Bill in the interests of the children in the back Mocks who would have to get up an hour earlier. 7\fr "Richards.. (Vincents, said the towns wanted this Bill to get more sport. If they wanted the. daylight saving in the towns, let them have iL but it should not be forced on the rural districts. Air J. S. Cdnnett, (Taranaki).

thought they should have strong leasons before hindering the passing of the Bill. There was already too much opposition of town v. country.