MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

Rotorua Morning Post, 1 March 1933, Page 6

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

OPENING TO-MORROW IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS DELE.GATES ARRIVE IN ROTORUA >FOR DELIBERATIONS TOWN CLERKS' ANNUAL MEETING Mayors, town clerks, and i*epra-:entatives from pi'actically all local bodies ixi th'e Dominion will attend tlie annual conference of the Municipal Association of New Zealand which opens in the Majestic Ballroom to-morrow morning. Over 120 delegates had arrived^ yesterday and further additions are expeeted. The Municipal Conference will be preceded to-day by the final metiy'ng of the exeeutive and the annual conference of the New Zealand Town Clerks' Association, whieh will be held at 7.30 thi® evening. i j ! ( ! The Mayor of Rotorua, Mr. T. Jackson, who is, this year, president of the association, will preside and will extend a civic welcome to the delegates at 9.30 o'clock to-morrow morning.

Among the more important remits which will come before the conference to-inorrow, is the question of the direct representation of borough councila on hospital boards, and the direct representation of boroughs of a population of 6000 or less on the highways councijl of thelir distriet, The "first remit is moved by Wellington and the .second by Richmond. The question of motor legislation land the fees derived under the Transport Licensing Act will also come up for discussion apropos of a remit moved by Hastings "that this conference considers it unjust that under the Transport Licensing Act, amending the law relating to public vehiicles, local bodies should be deprived of the fees they formerly received from this source and it be urged th'at the Govermnent bring down amending legislation with a view to local bodies receiving at least a reasonable proportion .of the fees paid under the said act." This remit is of particular interest to all local bodies and has received the support of t'he Rotorua Borough Council. Heavy Traffic Fees In the same connection, Gisborne has also submitted a remit advocating that the heavy traffic regulatioms be amended to provide that local authovities running their own lorries and omnibuses solely within the precincts of their own cities or boroughs be exempted from the payment of Iheavy traffic licensing fees. The Huntly Council has forwarded a remit advocating that all boroughs participate in the allocation of the petrol tax. This remit will probably promote a discussdon upon the whole incidence of the tax. Timaru has submitted a remit advocating that wherever hoardings are erected on Government property which are legible from a.ny point within the borough, hoarding fees preseribed by the local authority should be payable thereon. A Rotorua remit advocating that the license fees payable by itinerant hawkers should be substantially dncreaeed, has also the support of the Huntly Box*ough Council. The Wellington City Council has also moved that local authox-ities be given power to licexxse door to door traders not coming within the definition of hawkers. The Bluff and Gisborne couneils have remits suggesting that the iassociation frame a model set of bylaws for the guidance of all local authoritieis with a view to standardising by-laws throughout the Dominion. The One Tree Hill Couxxeil advocates the compulsory x*egistration of all cycles and the payxnent of an annual registration fee of Is. Rating Remit A ratin'g remit which has wide support is one from the Mt. Albert Council advocating that the Government be urged to bx*ing down legislation abrogating the effeet of the recent decision, the Mayor, etc., of Inglewood v. the King and placing all State lending departments in the same position as other mortgagees in regard to local body rates levied on mortgaged premises. Timaru has also moved that Government propexties be not exempt from rating more particularly where Govexmment Department's acquire houses for the poxrpose of letting thenx to their own officers. This rexnit and others to the same effect, have vex*y general support and should promote a vigorous discussion. It is generally felt that the exemption of the Crown from general and special rates is placing a very heavy burden upon local bodies in respect particulax*ly of properties reverting to Governxnent departments. ' The Ellerslie council has a remit advocating that rates be collectable quarterly instead of annually as at the present tirne. Meat For Sale A remit which has been carried at several conferences and which has

aigain been bi*ought forward by Rotorua and Invercargill is that any meat supplied to or consumed at any boarding house, restaurant or eating house, shall be deemed to have been sold or exposed for sale. The exeeutive coxnxxxittee of the association has sponsox*ed a remit advocating the framing of new town planning legislation in order to' conform with the views of thd Town Planning Board and with the Eniglish Act. Shannon has bxnught forward a remit advocating that to ensure a uniform standard. of values, and to save both the Government and ratepayers unnecessary expense in the assessment coxxxts, an owners' representative be appointed to act with the Government valuer. Lengthy Business It is anticipated that the majority of the remits on the xnaixx order paper

will be dealt with at to-moiTow's sessions axxd the conference will then be at .liberty to px*oceed with the business on the supplementary ox*der paper. The conference will probably sit froxxx 9.30 o'clock each nxorning xxntil 12.30, in the afternoons fx-om 2.30 to 5.30 and in the evenings, froxxi 7.30 to 10.30. There are, in all, 89 remits on th'e main order paper while the supplementary order paper will also be lengthy. All remits hiave been carefully examined by the exeeutive in order to eliixiinate matters which are not deemed of txrgency ' so that the time of the confex*enee will be very fully occupied. A nixmber of delegates are accornpanied by their wives and members of their families and an invitation has been extended to all the visiting ladies with their friends, to be present at the official opening of the conference. After the civic reception it has been ax-ranged that the ladies shall be shown round the bath buildings and the Government Grounds, followed by morning tea at the Kioslc. In the evenixxg, the ladies will be entex'tained at an infoi'mal social evening at the Tea Kisok. On Friday, all delegates and their friends will be entertained at a Maori coxxcert in the Majestic Theatre while the whole of Saturday will be devoted to a sightseeing trip to the Blue and Green Lakes, Rotoiti and Okataina with luncheon at Hongi's track. The civic welcome will be followed by the roll-call of delegates and after this has concluded, the president will deliver lxis ixxaugxxral address. Incidentally this is the third address which Mr. Jackson has prepared for this conference. It originally was to have been held in March 1931 and was sxxbsequently postponed on account of the Napier earthquake and other circurnstances. List of Delegates. Among the delegates and members of their families attending the two

conferences are the following: Mr. W. H. Wood (Ashburton), Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Hxxtchison, Mr. A. J. Entrican and Mr. and Mrs. and Miss Brigham (Axxckland), Mr. Humphrey i Kemp (Birkenhead), Mr. and Mrs. i I). G. Sxxllivaxx, Mx\ and Mrs. J. W. Beanlaxxd, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Neville, ; Mr. E. H. Andrews and Mr. M. E. ' Lyons (Christchurch), Mr. Marcus D. Sxnith and Mr. G. T. O'Hara Smith ' (Dannevirke), Mr. and Mrs. F. A. ' Jones and Miss L. D. Watson (Dar- ! gaville), Mr. and Mrs. S. F. Fisher and Captain and Mrs. Rockstrow (Eastbourne), Mr. I. J. Bridger, Mrs. 1 T. Traslc and Mrs and Mrs. A. J. MacPherson (Eltham), Mr. J. W. Gard (Featherston), Mr. C. E. Taylor and Mx*. N. C. Hax*ding (Feilding), Mx*. and Mrs. D; W. Coleman and Mr. , and Mrs. E. D. R. Robinson (Gisj borxxe), Mr. A. L. Burk (Green Is- ! land), Mr. J. W. Greenslade and Mr. i F. H. Denton (Greymouth), Dr. F. 1 D. Pinfold and Mr. W. A. Weddel | (Hamilton), Mr. G. E. Roach and Mx*. 1 P. R. Purser (Hastings), Mr. A. j Christie and Mr. W. II. Anderson \ (Havelock North), Mr. E. A. Pacey j and Mr. H. S. Elliott (Hawera), Mr. and Mrs. H. Norcross (Henderson), , Mr. W. C. E. George and Mr. C. j Hay-Chapxnan (Huntly), Mr. John ! Miller and Mr. W. Sturxnan (InverI cargill) , Mr. B. S. Knox, Mr. W. T. Strand and Mr. A. McBain (Lower ; Hutt), Mr. and Mrs. F. Hobbs (Lyttelton), Mr. T. Jordan and Mr. and Mx*s. T. T. Denbee (Masterton), Mr. Hugh Johnston and Mr. L. G. P. Mahoney (Mangaweka), Mr. W. Gox*don, Mr. J. Pohlan (Matamata), Mr. E. Moore (Milton), Mr. and Mrs. W. i T. Osborne and Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Stx*ahan (Morrinsville), Mr. York I (Motueka), Mr. axid Mrs. W. F. Stil- ; well, Mr. and Mrs. R. Ferner anct Mr. ; Congalton (Mt. Albert), Mr. F. Wati ters (Napier), Mr. and Mrs. W. J. | Moffatt and Mr. T. Mitchell (Nelson). ! Mr. E. A. M. Leaver and Mr. C. T. Middleton (New Brighton), Mr. S. : Donaldson and Mr. H. Wilson (New- ; xxxax'ket) , Mx*. R. Eyre and Mr. H. B. I Fraser (Ngaruawahia), Mr. H. W. I Wilson (Northcote), Mr. and Mrs. I. ' J. Goldstine, Mi\ A. Leese (One Tree Hill), Mi*. E. Morton and Mr. S. ; Vella (Onehunga), Mr. C. H. FlemI ing (Opotiki), Mr. :A. A. Liddell i (Otautau), Mr. W. Marshall and Mr. | F. E. Flatt (Paeroa), Mr. J. D. Wil- ■ son and Miss Wilson and Mr. L. D. 'and Mrs. Lovelock (Pahiatua), Mx*. j W. J. Nicholson, Mr. E. H. Burton t and Mx*. K. Franklen (Papatoetoe), j Mx*. S. Bish (Pukekohe), Mr. Rowse j (Rangiora), Mx*. H. Warren-Kelly ; (Richmond), Mr. and Mrs. J. T. I Bovis (Shannon), Mr. P. Skoglund | (Stratfox-d), Mx*. J. F. Menzies and i Mr. A. Holden (Sumner), Mr. G. I Swectman (Te Puke), Mr. L. B. H. de Lautour and Mr E. J. Price (Taihape), Mr. J. Guiniven and Mr. H. L. Bowden (Takapuna), Mr. C. A. Boles and Mr. I. A. Webb (Taumatanui), Mx*. B .C. Robbins and Mrs. A. E. Newsham (Tauranga), Mr. R. Coulter and Mx*. F. W. Wild (Te Aroha), Mx*. W. F. Broadfoot and Mr. L. II. Tate (Te Kuiti), Mx*. C. L. Grange (Thames), Mr. W. M. Wallnutt and Mr. E. C. Westbury (Waihi), Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Harker, and Mr. and Mrs. H. H. O'Loughlen (Wairoa), Mr. and Mrs. N. G. Armstrong and Mx*. G. Murch (Wanganui), Mr. and Mrs. T. C. A. Hislop, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. John O'Shea, Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Norxnan (Wellington), Mr. W. Connor (West Harbour), Mx\ J. H. Harkness and Mx*. A. Taylor (Westport), Mr. W. Sullivan, Mx*. W. Jarrett and Mr. D. 'V. Saunders (Whakatane), Mr. W. Jones and Mr. A. D. Jack (Whangarei), Mx*. W. Sampson (Waiuku).