THE COUNTY CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1918, Page 6

THE COUNTY CONFERENCE.

At the confcrenc.2 of members of local bodies at Eltliam on Tuesday, those present were: .Messrs C. J. Helper, A C Pease, and E. J. Gifford, with the engineer (Klthani County), J. B. Murdoch and K. Linn (Hawcra County), McPhillips and Budge, with engineer (Waimate West County), E. Walter, Were, ami J. Christotl'el, with engineer (Stratford C'jouuty), Wright and Cornish (Egmont County), Cor.nett and A. Morton ('taraaki County), Piggott (Clifton Comity), CorkiP, Bowler, and Todd (Moa Eo'art Board), Bridge (Manaia Town Board), also, Messsrs T. .R Crump (Eitham Borough), McMillan (Stratford Borough), •I. Clarke (>*i.,v Plymouth Borough). Apo'iogies for vwe received frojn the Mayors of \ew Plymouth ami Ha-' wera, and from i;.e Patea County Mr. C. J. Belcher presided, and explained the object of the gathering—viz., to obtain uniformity in riic by-laws throughout ftxn province. Other matters might als<> bo brought forwar.l He I briefly welcomed the Mayors of Eitham and Stratford. The by-laws throughout the province were, he believed, all ,ib=nlete, particularly some in connection with by-laws referring to the roads, which had been made quite out of date by the advent of the motor. lie suggested that they wight draw up by-laws under three headings, those applicable to 'both counties and boroughs, those applicable to counties only, and those applicable to boroughs on'.y. A lengthy <li™u.°sion took place on various recommendations brought forward by the various representatives, and proposals were drawn up to be placed in the hands of a committee to be set up to go further into these, to be subsequently referred to the councils for confirmation or alteration. The following wove appointed a committee to draft the proposed by-laws:— The chairmen of the TCltham, Stratford, and Hawera Counties, and the Mayors of Eitham, Stratford, and New Plymouth. It. was decided that the committee be empowered to obtain legal advice if necessary, and it was decided that the expense be shared by. the various local bodies. The erection of a provincial tar production works was. discussed, but the matter was held over for further consideration at a future meeting. Arrangements were made regarding the cost of framing the by-laws, etc., each (vunty to bear a proportion of the expense. The question of the f-;e to be paid by each body joining tho conference was left to the committee to decide. It was also decided to fix the maximum pay for wagers men at 13s per day for time worked, an increase of Is over the maximum fixed at the conference of October, 1917. The question of the clerk's resignation was then, discussed. Messrs F?lcher and Murdoch both ni'i'.ised Mr. Tristram's work in the pact, and a proposal to request Mv Tn-uam to rc-eonsider his wai en' Tied imnm'moiHy. Mr Tristram explained that he had vesinrert °n fir-count of the fact that lie had severed his coniior-tion with llie Eitham Ccuntv Council, and he thought that the conference would prefer a secrctarv who was in close touch with count v work. Several memhers expressed the that sunk fas not necev.-ary, and Mr. ! T'rinram was re-appointed secretary.— i Argus. "* ' I