TARANAKI LOCAL BODIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1921, Page 2

TARANAKI LOCAL BODIES.

MEETING AT ELTHAM. At the last meeting of the Taranaki Local Bodies' Association those present were: Messrs. C. J. Belcher, presiding, and C. E. McGuinness (Eltham County), E. Walter (Stratford County), A. Corkhill (Inglewood County), J. B. Murdoch (Hawera County), J- S. Connett (Taranaki County), McPhillips (Waimate West County), Pigott (Clifton County), G. W. Taylor (Eltham Borough), and W. C. Clement (Eltham Drainage Board), together with the clerks and engineers to several of these bodies, and the secretary, Mr. W. J. Tristram. Mr. Tristram was appointed penmanent secretary to the Association, and with the chairman was authorised to operate on the banking account. LOCAL BODIES FINANCE BILL. The chairman said the chief matter for consideration that day was the Local Bodies’ Finance Bill, many of the provisions of which were bj’ no means in the best Interests cf the local bodies. After considerable discussion the following resolutions were passed, and are to be forwarded to the Premier, Minister of Internal Affairs, members for the Taranaki electorates, couniies, and municipal associations: — (1) That this Association objects to the principles of tbe proposed Local Bodies’ Finance Bill, 1921. (2) That subject to the previous resolution the antecedent liability mentioned in the proposed Bill should be taken as at March 31, 1922, and the first reduction instalment not earlier than April 1, 1923, also that the period for reduction instalments should be extended from 7 to 12 years. (3) That this Association opposes any limitation of existing overdraft powers throughout the year. (4) That provision be made in the Bill to meet cases of flood damage and emergen“y expenditure, further that the value of unused materials on hand and anticipated loan expenditure, respectively, purchased and expended out of general account, should be treated as outstanding revenue at the end of the financial year, and deducted from the- actual bank overdraft. Mr. Connett was also appointed to interview the Premier and Minister of Internal Affairs upon this mutter. TOLL-GATES. In the Counties Act, 1920, toll-gate revenue becomes general county revenue, and is divisible among all ridings in proportion to (he amount of general rates collected in each riding. In this connection the following resolution was passed:— "That as toll-gate revenue is raised for a specific purpose, it should be a. Special credit to the riding or ridings In or for which same is raised and that an endeavor be made to have the’ Counties Act, 1920, amended accordingly during the present session of Parliament, with retrospective operation, and that the matter be left in the hands of the chairman (Mr. Belcher) to arrange." LAND DRAINAGE ACT. Various amendments were suggested to •be Land Drainage Act, 1908, and the Land Drainage Amendment Act, 1920, dealing respectively with cleaning of drains outside the boards’ jurisdiction, and restoring various powers vested in the boards prior to the passing of the 1920 amendments.