LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8, 7 May 1912, Page 5

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

BOROUGH COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THE BILL. CONFERENCE REPRESENTATION Last night. the Stratford Borough Council, discussed at a special meeting the Local Government Bill. Present: Ito Hla Worship the Mayor .(Mr. W. P. * Kirkwood), Councillors N. J. King, T. Lawson, R. McK.Morison, J. D. Healy, S. A. Ward, J. W. Boon, J. McAllister, G. Sangster, and T. Paget. Cr. Paget moved, and Cr. King seconded, the adjournment of the Coun--1 cil. . Tho Mayor opposed this on the grounds that he had to attend a conference next day to appoint a delegate to represent .the Stratford Hospital rating area at the conference in VVellingtonx If the Council, adjourned now, the Council's delegates would go to that conference without knowledge, the Town Clerk read a memorandum from the Hospital Board, and explained that the delegate to the Wellington Conference would be expectad to represent Stratford and Whangamomona County Councils, and the Borough Council. In consequence of winch Cr. Paget,said that this was qmte absurd, for the Borough interests were entirely different to those of the counGi\ King agreed with this, and said a strong protest should be made. Crs. Sangster and Boon moved an amendment to go on with the businesl. i , 'Hie resolution of the New Plymouth Harbour Board protesting against the inadequate representation, and asking that each class of local body should havo a separate delegate,, was read. W. Paget moved that the Council support this resolution.! and protest m'o'Sfc strongly against the inadequate representation of bodies having diverse interests. He said it would be perfectly, Useless to spend their time- ■ rn discussing the provisions of the Bill, and then leaving the-'Borough's .side cf the question to be represented by a man who, perhaps, had never hved in a.borough, and had no knowledge of municipal government. Cr. Ward: "And vice versa." Or: Paget:- "Exactly. It would be quite useless to ask me to represent the views of a County Council, for I know nothing about county matters. It ig futile to discuss this measure at all. It is too ridiculous for anything; ol- ; nibs't too rdiculous for the Government. As far as I can see the only effective protest the Council can make Will be to absent itself from Tuesday's •conference.", . , .. Ct. McAllister, whilst agreeing with Cr>, Paget's remarks., said he could not support the amendment, though he agreed with Cr. Paget's remarks. He wduld support the amendment as a separate motion. To absent themselves would do no good, although it might Serve to make them look* ridiculous. He thought the Council should discuss the Bill) ahd the members would thus educate themselves. , Cr. Morison said tho Council should certainly discuss the measure, which -vyas.teally "fishing for information." i'.i ■ : Cr. Paget: Sucking our brains. Or.' Morison '' Yes; and they're en- " titled, to get our : views, and put them , inte a workable measure. ,'The amendment moved by Cr. Pasret was, withdrawn, and the Councillor gave/notice that he would move it, later:'. '..;i. /:, /.•'-.'.'. ..' , . The Council then went on to discuss - ~the Bill.clause, by.clause. '.'' At the conclusion of the meeting the . ■following resolutions were passed:— 1. That in the opinion of this Couri- ( ciFthe setting up of a. Provincial : Council is injurious to local govern- ■ ment nTaranaki. 2. That this Council is also of opin- 1 ion' that to expect a Council of men i elected for the general purposes of the i Provincial Council to exercise wisely ( all. the functions contained in para* 1 graph 10 of the memo, to the Bill is i to expect the unattainable, particularly With regard to Hospital and Charit- i ,able Aid, Public Health, Education, and Harbours. 5 3., That this Council is of opinion i that boroughs should be exempt from the provisions of the Local Govern- '. ment Bill in that the proposed fran- 1 ohise gives them inequitable representation as between boroughs and couri- 1 ties, and that the possible grouping ,of boroughs with one representative will lead to an inadequate representa- ] tion of boroughs' interests. • 4.. That this Council support the New Plymouth Harbour Board's reso- ■ lution re tho proposed constitution cf 1 the Conference to be held in Wellington.