THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 397, 6 August 1877, Page 3

THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

[By Telegraph.] Wellington, August 4. At the Municipal Conference to-day, the following business was transacted : Mr. Steward, called attention to section 10 of the "Rating Act, which provided that where any property is let for any term of less than six months, the owner should be primarily liable for the rates. This praotically 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 the rolls of other towns had been diminished in proportion. There were many persons who would not care to take a house for six months or a year, although they might have lived in the town for two or three years or more. There was no provision iu the law which allowed a tenant, if he wished, to pay the rales, and have his name entered on the valuation bst. Practically the tenant always paid the rates, as the landlord would add them

to the rent if he were liable. He wuuld, therefore, move, " That it be recommended that legislative provision be made to read section 9 of the Rating Act, 1876, in the manner following, viz., provided always that if the occupier of any property, not being the owner thereof, should himself pay or cause to be paid within the time prescribed by law the rates due in respect of such properly, his name shall thereupon be entered on tiie Burgess Roll in place of the name of the owner of such property, as provided by section 9 of the Rating Act, 187 G." Mr. Seymour agreed with the motion, but thought that owners should also have a vote. The Chairman read the clause of the Act of 1867 which provided that tenants should be primarily responsible, and if he failed to pay the rates, then the landlord became liable, whoever paid exercising the franchise on behalf of that property. Mr. Swanson called attention to the fact that the burgesses had had the power to plunge any town in debt for perhaps a hundred years, and it would be most unfair and unjust that a man living in a town for perhaps only three months, should saddle the owners of property with such enormous rates. Mr. Steward said the Act of 1867 had not had any evil effect, for it would only be the better class of small occupiers who would desire to pay the rates themselves ; however, he had no objection to any motion providing for the case suggested by Mr. Swanson, so that only owners of property should have votes in respect to permanent loans, but thought tnat the question had better come in as an amendment to Section 139 of the Municipal Corporations Act. Mr. Swanson thought holders of long leases should have equal power with the owner. He quite agreed that every bona fide occupier should have a vote on matters not dealing with a permanent loan. The Chairman pointed out that even if a man had 200 houses he would only have live voles, so that the 195 tenants would be totally unrepresented. He agreed with Mr. Swanson as to loans for permanent works. The motion was unanimously carried, it being understood that the recommendation only referred to Municipalities, and not other bodies affected by the Rating Act. Mr. Munro moved, " That it is desirabable to alter Section 50 of the Rating Act, so that interest may be charged against arrears of rates," which was carried unanimously, Mr. Swanson incidentally remarking that it would be well if the local authorities had the right to seize and "farm" all absentee's estates, such estates to become public endowments if the owners failed to put in an appearance wit'tin a certain number of years. Upon the motion of the Chairman, the following resolution was passed :—" That an amendment should be made to Clause 37 of the Rating Act to the following effect: Where any buildings shall consist of more than one tenemeut 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 as to the law in the matter, and in Christchurch it had been decided against the Corporation. The object of the motion was to have the law clearly and authoritatively defined. Mr. Ellen moved, "That Clause 39, Part 3, of the Municipal Corporations Act be repealed, and that votes for the election of Mayor and Auditors be cumulative." Mr. Swanson and others opposed the motion, and Mr. Standish thought that the Mayor should be the representative of the whole city, and not one third. Mr. Jack, as Mayor of Hokitika, opposed it on the same grounds. The Chairman said that at the last elections the City Council of Christchurch passed a resolution affirming the desirability of restoring the system of cumulative voting, on 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, or 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 agreeing with this, the motion was negatived on the voices. The Chairman ]>roposed 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 liable for rates." He hoped the Conference might get through its business on Tuesday, so tliat members might have an opportunity of meeting the Government and explaining their views upon the several matters they had considered. They would then be enabled to return home by steamers which left for North and South on Wednesday ; and each Borough could write to its representative in the House, urging him to support the suggested reforms.