CONFERENCE OF CHAIRMEN OF ROAD BOARDS.

Southland Times, Issue 1648, 15 October 1872, Page 3

CONFERENCE OF CHAIRMEN OF ROAD BOARDS.

«» • A meeting of chairmen and members of the various Road Boards lately formed in the Southland district, for the purpose of conferring as to the beat means of bringing the Roads Ordinances into operation, was held on Saturday, at the Prince of Wales Hotel. The meeting was called for twelve o'clock, and at that hour a number of the delegates met at the place appointed, and elected Mr Mackintosh, Otautau, to the chair. ]t was then resolved to adjourn till two o'clock. On the meeting re-assembling, there were present Messrs Mackintosh (Otautau), chairman, M' Arthur (Wallacetown), Dalrymple (Invercargill), Blakie (Wallacetown), M'Math (Lindhurst), J. G-. Brown (Oteramika), Wilson (Aparima), Thomas Sutton (Aparima), l)awson (Oteramika), and Lyon (Apai rima). Messrs Harvey and Macdonald, solicitors, were also in attendance by request. The chairman, in an able address, explained the object of the meeting, and detailed the various difficulties which

had already been discovered in the way of the useful working of the Ordinance. He spoke of the beneficial results of local government wherever fairly tried, and expressed a hope that the measure would yet be so amended as to become both practical and useful. Mr M' Arthur then, in a speech of some leneth, moved : — " That in the opinion of this meeting the annual-value-to-let principle of rating is objectionable, and that some other mode ought, to be adopted, if the Ordinance permits." This was seconded by Mr M'Math. Mr Dalrymple then moved as an amendment : — " That in the opinion of this meeting, the annual - value -to - let Otago Roads Ordinances, 1871 and 1872, are unworkable ; and that a petition be got up before next meeting of Council for the said Ordinances to be amended to an acreage rate." This w;is seconded by Mr Blakie Some discussion ensued, during which it was suggested that the motion and the amendment were by no means inconsistent with each other, and that if the amendment were withdrawn Until the motion was put, both Tt-ould probably be car ied. This view seemed to find favor with the meeting. Mr Dalrymple withdrew his amendment, and Mr M' Arthur's motion was carried unanimously. Mr M'Artbur then moved, and Mr Lyon seconded :— " 1 hat Messrs Harvey and Macdonald be consulted as to the best means of carrying out the foregoing resolution," which was also carried unanimously. Mr Dalrymple's amendment was then put as a substantive resolution, Mr Dalrymple urging that the Ordinauce should be allowed to lie dormant until the next meeting of Council, when it should be amended. Mr M'Arthur said that it might not be so easy to let the Ordinance lie dormant, as in event of the Boards refusing or neglecting to act, the Superintendent bad power to act for them. It was then suggested by various gentlemen that in event of the annual-value-to-let rating pressing unjustly in any case, the Boards had the matter in their owu hands, as they had power to alter and amend any valuation within their districts. The chairman, with the concurrence of the meeting, having en quired of the legal gentlemen present whether this were so, was informed that under the Ordinance the Boards uudoubtedly had such power. Mr Dalrymple's motion was then put to the vote, when there voted for it, Messrs Dalrymple, Blakie, and M' Arthur; and against it, Messrs M'Math, J. Gr. Brown, AVilson, Thomas Sutton, Dawson, and Lyou. The motion was accordingly lost. Mr J. Gr. Brown then moved :—" That, in the opinion of this meeting, each Board ought to have the power to adopt, within its own district, either the annual-value-to-let system of rating, or the acreage rate, or both in the same district ; and thatthe Ordinance should be amended to that effect." This was seconded by Mr M'Arthur, and, after discussion, carried unanimously. Mr Dawson moved, and Mr M'Math seconded : — " That the chairman, Mr Mackintosh, be requested to receive the legal opinions required by Mr M Arthur's resolution, and to transmit copies to the various chairmen of Road Boards in the Southland district." This was carried unanimously. Mr Wilson then moved, and Mr M'Math seconded : — " That a draft petition be prepared for signature in the various districts for presentation to the Provincial Council, setting forth the reasons why the Ordiuancos in force should be amended so as to give the Boards power to rate on the annual-value-to-let, the acreage, or both, in the same district." This motion, after a short discussion, was also carried unanimously ; and the meeting closed, at 4> p.m , with the usual vote of thanks to the chairman.