COUNTIES’ ASSOCIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1930, Page 5

COUNTIES’ ASSOCIATION

CONFERENCE OPENS

(By Telegrapn—Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, July 2. The biennial conference of the New

Zealand Counties Association was ,’opened to-day by Hon de la Perelle. He mentioned he had addressed a letter to the President of the As-

sociation on the subject of franclii.se in combined districts for electric power boards, harbour board and hospital board elections. llis proposal uas to make a slight alteration in the County franchise for all elections by adopting a. provision in the Municipal Corporations Act to the effect that in the case of a husband and wife, any qualification possessed by either for enrolment as an elector should be possessed by each of them. Tims both husband wife would die always oil the electors roll. He suggested also that acts governing the class of boards :n question should bo amended by providing for plural voting, instead of the restriction at present existing, whereby each elector had one vote. He thought this would help to equalise the position, aa existing between town and country areas. He assured the Conference of the value set by .the Government on the remits passed at such conferences and of the great assistance it was ki the Government to have the various points of view which arose out of the discussions.

PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS.

WELLINGTON, July 2

In his presidental address to the Counties Conference, Mr A. E. Jull made a suggestion that the conference might consider the carrying out of what be thought was the original intention of assistance in respect of rural roads, by retaining for Highway Board administration the original scheme of a Main Highway and that all other roads, including the present secondary highways should be uniformly assisted out of the petrol tax in proportion to the expenditure thereon, to an amount tli aft would give reasonable relief to the rural taxpayer.