MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 49, 18 July 1914, Page 5

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Matters relating to electoral reform were discussed by the Municipal Conference to-day, when a proposal approving the principle of proportional representation was rejected. The following officers were elected: — President, Mr. J. P. Luke, Mayor of Wellington; vice-presidents, the Mayors of Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Nelson; executive committee, the Mayors of Petone, Ifutt, Palmerston, Karori, Onslow and Masterton. and Councillor A. H. Ilindmarsh, M.P. (Wellington), and representatives from the town boards of Johnsonville and U/pper Hutt; secretary, legal adviser and treasurer, Mr. T. i\ Martin. In committee, the Conference decided to increase the salary of the secretary and legal adviser (Mr.'T. F. Martin), and on resuming heartily thanked him Tor his excellent work.

Among the remits adopted were the following:— That section 103 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908, * e amended, to enable a municipal council to transfer to the general account the surplus from any separate account, showing the moneys accruing from any undertakings controlled oy the council; that it is expedient that the Government Valuation of Land Act should be re-drafted and .simplified, and that it should lie provided that in every year the rates should he levied on the old roll as amended to March 31, and that uo revision should, so far as rates are concerned, take effect, until April 1 lic.vt ensiling; that all fences that shall hound any road upon which there shall he a level railway crossing, shall for >i distance of four chains on Loth sides of th" rails at such crossing, and on each side of such road, he constructed witli picket or other open fencing material not more than three feet six inches in height, and that no live, closeboarded or close iron fence shall he allowed or permitted to remain; that legislation he given effect to whereby Crown or Native Land Hoards shall have power to refuse the transfer of any such sections (that are liahle to rating by any local authority!, pending a certificate from the clerk of the respective [ local authority that all rates have been [paid: that a* partition of all native j townships he executed by tiie Governi mi-nt and that a tribunal (whose decision shall be final) be set up for this purpose. DEPUTATION TO TIIE PREMIER. Wellington, Last Night. A deputation of delegates to the Municipal Conference waited on the Prime [ Minister this evening and placed before I him the results of the conference's deliberations, and the main points of the recommendations adopted. Mr. Massey, in the course of his reply, said the various matters submitted I would receive serious consideration, particularly from the Minister most concerned," Mr. Hell. The superannuation scheme was prominent in the recommendations, and that matter had already been considered by the Government. A Hill had been prepared, and. as had been suggested, would take the form of an amendment to the National Provident Fund Act. He asked whether the members of the Conference were" unanimous as to the making < I ( superannuation compulsory. Mr. Luke: Almost so. Only a few of the smaller boroughs are afraid o! I the financial strain.

"We will do our best with the Bill" continued Mr. Masscy. "H will lie introduced within » week or two, but t cannot guarantee a compulsory clause. To-dav a Bill for licensing motor-cars was submitted, the fees to go to the local bodies for road upkeep.—(Hear, hear).-As to the other questions, our time is limited this session, and w have not done ih much as we would have liked to have done, but they wnl certainly receive attention the session following, after the elections have been j disposed of."