MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 192, 4 August 1908, Page 2

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

JMlS'f DAY,

By lelegraph.~Jrre.BS Association. Wellington, August 3. Jho tenth annual conference of the Municipal Association was opened today, the Hon. T. \V. Hislop, Mayor of Wellington, presiding. The Chairman in welcoming the delegates, said the conference hud not leeeived liiudli encouragement in tin.- Mist hut it was hoped that the deliberations in future would have greater weight with tiie Government. The following resolutions were pass-

That the conference consider the advisableness of local bodies establishing a joint accident fund; that, in the to upilation of the district electors' lisi of boroughs divided invo wards .iiistu.i of separate lists for each ward 'jeiig provided, the names of the electj-s n all the wards shall be incorporate in a combined list, such list to contain separate columns showing i n wnie.'i ward each elector is entitled to vie. A motion was proposed to ex .end

the municipal franchise to all adult persons so far as elections are con cerned. The mover explained ih.tf. under the present law half a dozen people could get registration if :Jiey had the lease of a single living room. This, it was contended was unfair l.'i people who were paying heavier suras for board and lodging, and who were ineligble to vote. The motion was lost by 2<i votes to 24.

The following additional rcsoiutnaa were adopted:—That the district editors' rolls of the boroughs should be the electoral rolls used at all elections and polls by local authorities within the boroughs; that all such elections and polls should be under the provisions of the Local Elections Act; that provision should also be made to adapt the district electors' rolls for use at drainage board, tramway board, river board, or other local elections; that for the purpose of any poll under the Local .Bodies' Loans Act and of anyf other statute relating to the raising of loans affecting ratepayers, the Council shall be empowered to eliminate frcn the rolls the names of electors who do not possess the ratepayers' qualifications referred to in the statute authorising" the raising of the loan. A proposal to prevent plumping at municipal elections was thrown out on the voices. A motion that term of

office of mayors should be for two years was also rejected. Wellington, Last Niglit. The Municipal Conference to-day passed resolutions as follows: That Town Hoards be admitted to membership of the Association; that in order to obtain continuity of business, the Act be amended in the direction of making the period of office for councillors lor three years, with an annual retirement of one-third of the number of councillors; that all rates for the then current year, whether demanded; or. not and all arrears of rates and other charges due in respect of any property, must be paid before the transfer of ■such property can be noted in the rate book; that adjacent municipalities or any adjoining local bodies be compelled | to bear half the cost of lighting fi boundary road in similar terms to those relating to construction and maintenance of roads; that borough councils be given power to collect half cost of future permanent footpath work from adjoining owners irrespective of past work having been done without charge, such charge, however, not to' be recoverable if owners have previously paid a proportion of the cost of past works of a similar nature; that it shall be legal for a borough council to let from year to year unused streets within a borough which are not required for public traffic for the time being; that the largest city or borough amongst adjoining local bodies shall be the licensing 'and controlling authority for the collection of fees under heavy traffic by-laws, and that the fees collected be apportioned by a conference of local authorities infected, failing which the matter be settled by a magistrate; that some manifest corporations be given legal power to sell coal to burgesses and others; that dwellinghouses built contrary to the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act relating to open space, and not only lodging houses so built, Should be.liable to alterations if the same can be alter-

Ed so as to conform with the law, or if not to demolition as insanitary buildings; that the apportionment of cost of maintaining hospitals for consumptives in proportion to population instead of in proportion to rateable value is wrong; that May !i4th be honored throughout the Dominion as Kmpire Day, and declared a public holiday, and that June 3rd be not kept as a holiday; that borough councils be given express legislative authority for making by-laws to provide that no premises be used as tea, dining, or supper rooms or boarding houses unless licensed by the Council; that a legal definition of "llawker" or "pedlar" be obtained; that powers oe' given borough councils to lix the license fee for tne same, and .steps be taken to prevent auctioneers travelling from place to place to dispose of goods in competition with resident shopkeepers; that power be given municipalities to make bylaws regulating or prohibiting hawking or pcdlaring in or upon streets; that a universal standard tor the examination of plumbers and electrical wirenien be adopted to facilitate the issue of licenses to competent workmen by local bodies; that the municipal Corporations Amendment Act, l'JOti, he amended to permit of a borough separated by a navigable river or harbor being excluded from the 5-mile radium in respect of vehicle and drivers' licenses, so that it shall have the exclusive right to issue licenses within its boundaries; that charges on land for work done by a corporation be registered (for the protection of purchasers) under the Deeds Registration Land Transfer Act; that the Hospital and Charitable .Institution Hill circulated by the Government be strongly opposed on the ground that in reducing the Subsidy by one-half the Government will he unduly taxing the ratepayers.