MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 193, 5 August 1908, Page 2

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

SJiC'OXD DA\. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Tuesnay. The Municipal Conterenee to-day adopted, by 27 votes to 14, the follow/ iug motion, proposed by the St. Kildii borough: That the .Muuieipiil Corporations Act, 11)00, and Amendment Act, IUOU, should be amended to enable each Council to prescribe such an extent of open space and distance across as it .may deem reasonable, subject to the express condition that such extent and distances shall not be less Hum the extent and distances prescribed by the Statute. On the motion of the New l'lymouuii delegate it was decided: That the laws relating to public health be amended to make it obligatory that where a death occurs from a notifiable infectious disease such death shall be registered before burial takes place; also that the laws relating to public health be amended to make it obligatory for auctioneers and second-hand dealers before receiving bedding or clothing fur sale, to require a declaration that such bedding has not been exposed to infection or has been properly disinfected. Wellington, Last Jiight. The Municipal Conference was continued to-day. It is expected to conclude tllie business to-morrow, and the delegates will wait on the Hon. Dr. I'indlay in tile afternoon to lay before him the. matters dealt with. The more important resolutions adopted to-day were as follows—That the legislation regarding loans to loca 1 bodies be amended to unable loans to be converted at a higher rate of interest, where necessary, without taking a poll ol ratepayers; tliat the limitation imposed by clause 18 of the Local Uodies Loans Act that no debenture shall be for more than £IOOO, be removed, and that debentures be issued to any amount; that the Uoverninvnt be asked to promote a Bill defining the limit ol the speed at which motor cars may be driven; that the Local Uodies Loans Act, 11)01, be amended to allow loans secured by special rates over portions of a borough to be consolidated in one loan, or to permit one rate to be struck over the whole area to provide all the interest on special loans; that when a portion of a borough becomes merged into an adjoining borough, and -the merged area is subject to any special rate or rates for the re-payment of money borrowed, authority shall be given by .Statute to the latter borough to levy and colled such rales as the former borough may iMuuirc from year to year to pay interest and ."inking fund in connection with loans borrowed, prior to the merging, provided a poll of the ratepayers is first taken.

A' discussion took place regarding the provisions in (he I'ublie Works Art regulating the width of streets in cases of subdivision of land, it was resolved that Ulesc provisions should be so amended as to provide that exemption be allowed and conditions imposed at the absolute discretion of the local authority.