THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 184, 6 August 1877, Page 2

THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

Wellington, Saturday. Mr Steward called attention to section 9 of the Eating Act, which provides that where any property is let for any terra of less than six months the owner should be liable for the rates. This practically shut out a very large section of the community from exercising the franchise. In Dunedin the working of this clause had disfranchised 2000 people, and rolls of other towns had been diminished in proportion. There were many persons who would not care to take a house for six mouths or a year, although they might have lived in the town for two or three years or more. There were no provisions in the lav/ which allowed the tenant if he wished to pay the rates and have his name entered on the valuation list. Practically the tenant always paid the rates, as the landlord would add them to the rent it he were liable. He would, therefore, move— "That it be recommended that legislative provision be made, to read as a provision to section 9 of the Bating Act, 1876, in the manner following, viz: — Provided only if the occupier of any property not beiug the owner thereof should himself pay, or cause to be paid, within the time prescribed by law, the rates due iu respect of such property, his name shall thereupon be entered upou the burgess roll in place of the name of the owner of such property, as provided by section 9 of the Eating Act, 1876." Mr j Seymour agreed with the motion, but thought that owners should also have a vote. The • Chairmau read a clause from the Act of 1867 which provide! that the tenant should be primarily responsible, and if he failed to pay the rates then the landord became liable,whoever paid exercising the franchise on behalf of tbat property. Mr Swansou called attention to the fact that the burgesses had the power to plunge any town iu debt for, perhaps, a hundred years, and it would be most unfair aud unjust that a man living in a town for, perhaps, only three months, should saddle the owners of property with such euormous rates. Mr Steward said the, Act of 1867 had not any evil effect, for it would only be the better class of small occupiers who would desire to pay the rates. However he had no objection to any motion providing' for the case suggested by Mr Swanson, ao that only owners of property should have votes in respect qf permanent leases, but that question had better come in as an amendment

to section 139 of the Municipal Corporatons Act. Mr Swanson thought holders of long leases should have equal power with the owner. He quite agreed that every hona fide occupier should have a vote on matters not dealing with a permanent .jloan. The Chairman pointed out that even if a man had "200 houses he would only have five Votes, so that 195 tenants would be totally unrepresented. H§ agreed wth Mr Swanson as to loans foi permanent works. The motion was carried unanimously, it being understood that the recommendation only referred to Municipalities and not other bodies affected by the Rating Act. - MrMunro moved— "That it is desirable to alter section 50 of the Rating Act, so that interest may be charged against arrears of rates." This was carried unanimously, Mr Swanson incidentally remarking that it would be well if the iocal authorities had the right to seize and "farm" ail absentees estates, such estates to become public endowments if the owners failed to put in an appearance within a certain numberof vears. UpOn the motion of the Chairman the following resolutions were passed :— "That an amendment should be made. to clause 35 of the Raring Act to the following effect -—Where any building shall consist of more than one tenement, separately occupied, whether the same shall or shall not be structurally severed from the rest of the building, or shall or shall not have independent communication with the street, each tenement shall be deemed to be land within the meaning of section 37." He remarked that there was a doubt a3 to the law ; inthis matter, and in Christchurch it had been decided against the" Corporation. The object of the motion was to have the law clearly defined. ' Mr Ellen moved— "That clanse 39, part 3, of • the Municipal Corporations Act be repealed, and that votes for the election- of mayor and officers bd cumulative." Mr. Swanson and others opposed the motion; and Mr Standish thought that the mayor should be the representative of the whole city, and nofc one-third. Mr Jack, as Mayor of Hokitika, opposed it on the same grounds. The chairman "said that at the' last" election, the Council of Christchurch passed a resolutionaffirming the desirability of restoring the system'of cumulative voting, bn the ground that a better .class of men were obtained by it. It was useless to elect a: mayor in the manner proposed by the Act, as he had no power apart from, dr antagonistic to the Council, who were elected on a different basis. Mr Reeves preferred the English plan of placing the election of mayor in the hands of the Council, and Mr Hamilton agreed with this. The motion was negatived on the voices. The Chairman proposed the following motion, which was unanimously carried— " That steps be taken to obtain a re-enact-ment of Section 13, of the Bankruptcy Act, 1868, in order that the estate of any bankrupt may be primarily liabie for rates." The Chairman hoped the Conference might get through its business on Tuesday, so that members might have au opportunity of meeting the Government, and explaining their views upon the several matters they had considered. They would then be able to return by steamers which left for the North aud South on Wednesday, and each borough could write to ita representative in the House urging him to support the suggested reforms.