MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

Shannon News, 11 February 1927, Page 4

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

MANY AND VARIED REMITS. There are no less than 88 remits of ; tan e4!fcemely diversified nature seil) ; dawn on the order paper of the Municipal Conference which is to be held in Palmerston North commencing February 9th, and in addition, there is bound to be a long list of supplementary matters for discussion. The remits deal with accounts, auctioneers' Act, by-laws, dog registrations, drainage, electricity, electoral matters, fire brigades, harbours, superannuation, loans, highways, motor legislation, noxious weeds, reserves, and domains, rates, town-planning, land i valuation, public buildings, police records, half-holidays, etc. From a glance through this list, it will be recognised v that some of the subjects to be discussed are of great importance. For instance a remit from Westport asks that the Local Authorities Superannuation Act, 1908, be amended in the direction of making it

compulsory on, all local bodies to establish a superannuation fund for the benefit of their employees. Regarding loan moneys, the Eeilding Borough Council asks for amending legislation to enable local bodies to invest unexpended balances of loans not immediately required. , In respect of highways, the Dannevirke Council has forwarded a remit which has ' been carried at three previous conferences. It asks that subsidies to Borough Councils in respect of maintenance on reconstruction of streets, being portions of continuations of main highways through boroughs, be made mandatory on Highfway Boards in lieu of permissive. The (Government so far has not adopted the suggestion hence its revival. A Pukekolie remit asks for the classification of motor lorries which, with their load, weigh under two tons. The Government is to be ashed to legalise a simpler form of Districts Electors roll. Auckland Council asks for amending legislation to prohibit hawkers and pedlars plying their trade either in part of or the whole of any local body district and to decline to grant a hawker or pedlar license except on a recommendation from the Police. A suggestion from Temuka is that the Government be requested to declare a universal half-holiday for the whole of the Dominion. Christchurch Council suggests that power be given the police to arrest persons who, when found breaking a by-law, refuse to give their names. The Government is also to be asked to pass a regulation 'specifying tho right of tway as between vehicles at street intersections.