MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

Rotorua Morning Post, 1 March 1933, Page 4

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

The opening of the Municipal Conference in Rotorua to-mor-row marks the commencement of what is in fact the Local Bodies' Parliament of New Zealand. The present conference has been postponed since 1931 and, as a result, more than the usual importance attaches to the deliberations which commence tomorrow. Scrutiny of the order : paper indicates the national importance of many of the remits which will be considered, while it is probable that general discussion will take place upon such matters of general interest and importance as the saies tax, the exchange rate and interest reductions. Representing as it does, a large section of community opinion and one vested with the control of local government throughout the country, the opinions of the conference must carry a great deal of weight. The burden of local body taxation, as apart altogether from i general taxation, bears very | heavily upon this country and j the deliberations of the conferj ence directed toward a reduction 1 of this burden, will be watched j with interest throughout the Dojminion. Several remits which will j come before the conference deal

| with the question of rating rebates and the abrogation of the exemption from rates payments | which is at present given the State. It is pointed out, with justice, that the State is at present imposing a very heavy burden upon local bodies through this exemption and that State De- ; partments which have taken ' over properties for residential ! and other purposes, should, in : fairness, carry their share of ! the general rating burden. The question of the payment of at least a proportion of heavy traffic license fees to the local authority. having jurisdiction over the district, is also a most important matter and one with which the Rotorua Borough Council is particularly concerned. The new traffic regulations, while they have increased the burden of administration, have deprived local . authorities of what was previously a well earned source of revenue. A case in point is the action of the authorities in requesting the Rotorua council to make available the services of its traffic inspector without payment, while they at the same time deprived the council of the revenue which it previously derived from the collection of fees. The conference will also probably consider the recommendations of the National Expenditure Commission in regard to the amalgamation of local authorities and the centralisation of local body control. An inter-Departmental Committee is at present investigating the position and the data which it collects will be made available to the commission which will be entrusted with the final recommendations. A number of cogent arguments are to be advanced against some of the proposals and • the conference will no doubt fully discuss the position. At the same time it must be recognised tbat a concerted effort must be made to reduce the geheraPburden and to that end, co-operation between the local authorities and the Government is essential. A spirit of violent opposition on either side will only result in further trouble and friction and it is to be hoped that in the present emergency, both parties will work together for the eommon weal. The weather conditions have marred Rotorua's welcome to the visiting delegates, but that unfortunately is a factor over which no control can be exercised. The delegates have a very strenuous programme of work before them but it is to be hoped that they will still be able to find time to enjoy the many attractions which Rotorua offers its visitors.