COUNTIES CONFERENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 93, 23 August 1913, Page 6

COUNTIES CONFERENCE.

VARIOUS REMITS, [Per Press Association.] Wellington, August 22. At the Counties Conference this afternoon, Mr Ariel! (Otamatea) moved 'that fcho conference oppose any exten Ision of local bodies franchise. The remit was adopted. I Taxing motor cars was the subject [of a report by a special committee which recommended an annual tax on motor cars and motor'cycies, and submitted a scale of charges ranging from 10s to £'■]; also recommending that thi I revenue so (.'"rived should be allocated |to the Hospital Hoards. ; Proposals were also made for tin (control of drivers and the issue of J certificates. : Mr Qninn (Eltham) presented a minority report favoring twenty per cent limport duty on motor cars and five shil lings per cent, on "motor cycles, to b< 'paid into the consolidated revenue. ! Mr Moore (Makara) moved at amendment in the direction of .asking, the Government to tax motor ears nnc 1 devote the revenue, with special subsidies, to the upkeep of arterial roadr on the basis of use by motor. ! Mr Staples (Waimaire) moved a further amendment to the effect that the tax bo collected in the hospital district and distributed among municipal! ties and county "councils in tli'at district in direct'proportion to the rate able value and area of each, to be ex ponded on the maintenance of the arterial roads and their bridges.

Both amendments were lost and r imotion was passed, affirming that ar iannual tax should he imposed on mo I tors, and the remainder of the repori was deferred till next conference. The committee on county boundaric and merging road districts recommended:— (I) Legislation to lessei the number of counties, and in the event of such legislation, that community of interest and natural boundaries lie the first consideration; (2) .thai power be given to enable a portion o' a road district to merge into a county as every encouragement ought to *» given to abolish dual control ; always provided that the proposal is carrier by a majority both of ratepayers and of value. The report was adopted. A motion by Mr Grimmond (West land) to amalgamate various local bodies, the Hospital, 'Education anc? other Boards, was defeaetd in favor of an amendment by' Mr Studholmr (Ashburton) that no Government .Re form Bill will absolutely meet th<necessity of the case, which does not provide for a material compulsory reduction of the present number of rural local bodies by merging a number of smaller bodies into county councils.

M INTSTERIAL INTENTIONS. Wellington, August 22. The Counties' Conference this afternoon considered the Counties' Amendment Bill, and generally speaking decided in favor of.it. Just before the Conference rose, the Hon. H. D. Bell addressed the gathering. He said it was a serious matter to propose large alterations in the method of management of local affairs by the people themselves. Regarding finance, there were two funds, the Consolidated • and the Public Works Funds, both limited in amount, and on both there were enormous claims. The Government could only borrow so- much a year, and of this a proportion must go to piiblic works, advances to settlers and workers, building of schools, etc. The amount available for grants was limited by the amount the Government could borrow, and by the balance remaining after satisfying the Public Works Fund. The demand in the resolution regarding subsidies was limited only by the amount the counties rated themselves, and the value of the land. There did not appear 'to be any estimate of what change would result to the revenue. That estimate must' be made before any answer could be given. The Government had strong views on the reduction of the number of local bodies, and intended sul>mitting a process in detail -for local government and administration throughout the Dominion. He would endeavour to carry out the suggestions of the Conference re drainage in the Counties Bill. He did not agree that roads should be invested in Councils in fee simple, nor that they should be closed when a more convenient road was made. The Government would be-largely guided in many matters by the advice of the conference.