County Councils' Conference.

Manawatu Herald, 9 August 1894, Page 3

County Councils' Conference.

A Conference of delegates from various County Councils in the Colony was opened yesterday in the Hutt County Council offices. The delegates present were : Messrs F. Majendi (in the chair), C. W. Brown, H. A. Feild (Hutt), Kebbell, Engels (Horowhenua), J. G.Wilson, M.H.E. (Manawatu), Monkhouse (Stratford), A. S. Collins (Kaikoura), Fraser, M.H.B. (Lake), Phillips (Wairarapa South), Yon Beden (Wairarapa North), Trennery (Inangahua), Anson (Akaroa), McNab (Southland), Lang, M.H.B. (Waikato and Beglan), McMillan (Selwyn) and Peat (Patea). The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said the object of the Conference was ' to protect the rights of local government

by means of legislation, and to assure bettor finance, and his idea was that they should immediately form an assoaiation on the lines of the Jlunleipal Association of New Meakntl, which was already alien a great success; He sug£osted that Mi' H. D. Atlnri3oii bs .ajipWiited secretary to tlie Conference, which was agrgpfl to. Mr .7. G. Wilson moved, " That there be a County Council Association formed, en the lines of the Municipal Association of New Zealand." The motion was seconded by Mr Von Bed en. Mr Coleman Phillips said he was strongly of opinion that road boards should be included in the association. Mr Bngels proposed as an amendment that road boards oe included in tha association in districts where the Counties Act is suspended. Mr Wilson accepted the amendment, which was added to the original resolution. Mr Praser suggested that each provincial district should send fln equal number of representatives, as otherwise the Conference \voulfl be too unwieldy to do arty good. Ultimately, the resolution was carried in the following form :— " That a County Council Association for the Colony be established on the basis of the Municipal Association of New Zealand, and that the members of the Association be elected by the councils where the Counties Act is in operation, and by road boards where the Counties Act is not in operation." Mr H D. Atkinson was appointed secretary to the association. On the motion of Mr Keblipll, a committee of the whole was set up to form rules, &c, to report at the meeting of the Conference the next day. The meeting then adjourned until yesterday morning — N.Z. Time*.