ROADS AND BRIDGES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 91, 21 August 1913, Page 5

ROADS AND BRIDGES.

COUNTIES CONFERENCE. MANY MATTERS CONSIDERED. [Per Press Association.] Wellington, August 20. The County Conference was continued to-day. A remit was carried to the eiiect that the Customs’ Act be amended to admit road ' rollers and road-making machinery free; also that the Government be urged to take oil the duty and extra railage on Australian hardwood. It was decided to ask the Government to make provision in the County Act empowering counties to receive deposits in the same manner as is protided by the Municipal Corporations Act.

It was decided that powers similai to those now possessed by the Public Works Department be conferred on local bodies, enabling them when iiegotiating for an exchange of road lines through private property to take an agreement from the owner or occupier of such property to complete the dedication of the new road line in exchange for the old, such agreement t« hold and have effect for a period o< three years, notwithstanding any elninge of ownership or occupancy dur ing that period. It was agreed that tho attention o Die Government be drawn to the lac that so far as local bodies are con cernetl tho State Guaranteed Ad varices Act has failed in the purpose; iov which it was created, viz., in pro riding for local bodies the necessary funds from which to draw to. the con otruction of roads and bridges for tin development of new country, and ha. failed to fill tho wants of counties, also that representation bo made t the superintendent of the New Zealano .State-Guaranteed Advances Oliicvpointing out that great inconvenient, would be saved if, upon half-yearly demands for payment of principal mu interest in respect of loans whim, have been granted to local bodies, tin name of tho particular loan in respec. of which eacli demand is made weia also stated. The Conference decided to draw tin attention of the Government to tin serious inconvenience, and in sonu cases pecuniary loss, experienced b. counties as a result of the actions o. tile Commissioners, of Crown Land sold, leased, .forfeited and surrendered from countries, within whose boon claries such lands are situated, am the Conference requests the Govern meat to issue instructions that sum information be furnished.as herctofon decided, and that the Government be asked to make some better provision for the work of constructing and main tabling roads leading to pastoral runs especially w hen subdividing the same It was resolved that no per.so; other than a ratepayer lie entitled !■ vote upon any proposal for the rais ing of loans, whether for harbor work or for any other purpose. Tito question of superannuation fo employees of local bodies was discuss eel at the counties conference to-day. Mr J. Stndholme (Ashburton) mov ed that tho Council may grant, out o its funds, an annual sum not exceed ing £IOO to any ■ employee who ha. served tho Council faithfully fo twenty-live years, on his retirement. A remit from Patea also appsarec nn the order paper as follows: “Tha local bodies be empowered to provid for a retiring allowance of half th salary paid to employees for thro; years before retirement, this only t< be operative after twenty-five year: service, and to bo retrospective in it iperation as far as present employeeare concerned. After discussion the motion was los •y one or two votes. Mr Horrell then moved that tlr executive lie authorised to confer witl the representatives of other loca bodies on the question of establishing .1 superannuation scheme. Tlr .T. Storry (Ellesmere) seconder tin's and the motion was carried.