Counties Conference.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 178, 1 August 1904, Page 4

Counties Conference.

| . «J.> (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, ,1 uly 28. The following resolutions were * n passed at. the Counties Conference U tmny If Tfeat th» Government tie requested to <j»rry road and bridge nuitei-ial , Mt the railways at bare cost, and 5 Make better provision for the supply of ballast trucks. That Government be requested to take' the necessary steps to simplify the works returns required by the Department of Roads. That machinery, etc., be admitted tree of duty to local authorities. That this conference desires to ' 'draw, the attention of the Government to the fact that Government .toes of road are not infrequently . banded over to local authorities in a Krious state of disrepair, necessitating a large immediate outlay on the part of such authorities, thereby im- . posing upon them an expenditure' ..Which they can often, ill afl'ord, and .Which they ought not to be called on to undertake. That this conference is strongly in favour of the Town Districts Tljll now bofore the House, and urges upon the Government to facilitate the .passage of the bill. That the Government be requested .to .-amend the I'ublic Works Act by . passing as a schedule thereto a set ' •{ by-laws for the regulation of the 1 traffic on roads, and lor I In' licensing and regulation of Hie speed of ' vehicles, including motor cars and bicycles, which may be adopted by special order in their entirely or any ~ portion thereof by any individual Bounty. That all Government grants made

on a £ for £ tjasiS carry with them .the rigfot to borrow;,b sum equal to | the said grants, whether or not the limit 01 borrowing rower has been reached by the local body to which .such grants are made. That the Government be urged to i authorise the expenditure of all grants voted for rouds as soon, aa , possible after the session expires,even jif the amounts are not paid over un- | til after the 31st March. That the Government be requester to amend section 5 of the Counties Act of 1903 to allow councils to overdraw temporarily against separate rates in outlying districts, or to advance any such sums out of the general account and refund from separate account when funds permit. Taat the Audit Department be requested to endeavour to obtain a uni- ( versal systematic style of keeping J books, accounts, and balance-sheets throughout the counties of New Zealand. That the Government Valuations of Land Act be amended to provide that where revision of a roll is made the same facilities* be given for the inspection of the roll and objections thereto as were provided by the Hating Act, 1904. That section 2 of the Counties Act, 1908, providing that no alterations of any boundaries shall have effect until ti'xs close of the following financial year, be amended to aliow of such alteration taking effect so far as they relate to alteration of representation. That this conference urges upon the (iovernment to pass legislation legalising payments to bona fide cemetery committees or trustees in country districts. That t ! ie minimum amount of any loan grafted or agreed to 'l>e granted under this part of the Act shall in no case be less than £SO. That whenever in any county road districts having three-fourths of the value of such county arc merged, such county may by special order merge the remaining road boards of such couaty.