Second Edition COUNTIES ASSOCIATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 89, 19 August 1913, Page 6

Second Edition COUNTIES ASSOCIATION.

——— OPEN IN 0 PIU)CEE 1)ING S. [Pep. Press 'Association.] Wellington, August 19. The annual Conference of the New Zealand Counties’ Association commenced to-day, Mi A. dull, of Waipawa, presiding. In addressing the Conference the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. Mr Bell) asked if the Conference wished to abolish town boards. Before the delegates answered that, they would have to consider the wishes of the smaller local bodies. He referred to the requirements of what might be termed villages, where people resided close together as distinct from farmers. Personally, he belieevd that the attempt to abolish'the rights of these smaller collections of shops and houses who managed their own affairs Mould moet with very great opposition. I lien, again, did the Conference wish to abolish drainage boards? ft was the Minister’s belief that the large number of districts combined to drain particular areas would greatly resent transference of their powers to the counties.