MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5411, 31 July 1878, Page 3

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

The Municipal CcmCeL-onco met at half-past, 2 o'clock yesterday in the City Council Hall. The following ad Utional'delcu ites were present Mr. 11. J. William*, Wairarapa; Mr. Bowen, Kaiapoi ; Mr. Shrimski, Camara, His Worship the Mayor of Wellington occupied the chair. After the Clerk had road the minutes of the previous meeting, which were confirmed, The Chairman said that at the meeting held the previous day it was arranged to appoint a permanent chairman at the present meeting. Captain Standisjii proposed, and Mr. Power seconded, —That Mr. Brett, Mayor of Auckland, be appointed the permanent chairman. The motion was carried.

Mr. Brett said that he would only be in Wellington about seven days, and his business would not allow him to occupy the position. He thanked the Conference for the honor, but thought that the Mayor of Wellington would consent to act provided that the Conference lid not expect his attendance every day. It would be very easy to appoint another chairman pro tan. when the Mayor could not attend.

Mr. Lhansfield said that under those circumstances he would consent to act, and thanked them for the honor conferred on him. Mr. Charters then moved the following motion standing in his name, —That a clerk and parliamentary agent for the Conference be appointed, as suggested by the Thames Council in clauses 4 and 5, and that applications be invited for the office, the salary to be £ , per annum.

Mr. Brett objected to the words in _the. motion “so much per annum.” Mr. Shrimski considered this motion opened up a very wide question. He was.not deputed by the people of Camara to incur much expense. ; # Mr. Brett thought a permanent man should be appointed during the session. . it Mr, Gisborne thought with Mr. Shrimski that the appointment of a clerk opened up a wide question. He was of opinion that all that, was required was clerical services during the sitting of Parliament. . Mr. Brett suggested that some one should be appointed at £2 2s. per diem. - Mr. Bowen said probably the Conference would not last more than six or seven days, and he suggested that the Mayor of Wellington should appoint somebody temporarily. , He was quite sure that the borough which he represented never contemplated the appointment of a permanent clerk. It was ultimately resolved that the. Mayor of Wellington be empowed to make arrangements for the appointment of a temporary clerk. , .

Mr. Standish moved the following motion : —That in the opinion of this Conference Government is not warranted in making any deductions for the maintenance of either hospitals or charitable institutions from the subsidies granted by Parliament out of the Consolidated Revenue of the colony by, way of endowment to municipalities, and that a committee consisting of the following gentlemen,— W. S. Morehouse, F. Sutton, H. Brett, and the mover, —be appointed to interview Government on the subject, with a view of ascertaining whether they are prepared to pay over such subsidies in full from the commencement of the present yean This was seconded. , .

: After some little discussion, an amendment was carried that the words “since the first of January, 1878,” be inserted after the word “ deductions” in the original resolution. The resolution was then carried as amended..

Mr. Charters moved, —That the expenses’ of the Conference or league be borne equally by all those boroughs which are represented thereat.

Mr. Bowen moved as an amendment, —That the expenses of the sitting of the Conference be borne in proportion of the borough as taken at the last census by all those boroughs represented at the Conference.

Mr, Standish thought that the expenses should be borne and paid under one .uniform system. The amendment was carried. - Mr. Brett moved, —That the Conference revise seriatim the resolutions passed by the late Conference, with a view to expunging such portions as are now deemed unnecessary. This was seconded and carried, and the Conference then discussed the various clauses in the Municipal Corporations Act, 1877* It was resolved that the hours of sitting should be from 10 o’clock a.m. to 1 o’clock* p.m.'daily. . . ' The Conference adjourned at 4.30 until 10 o’clock this morning.