THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 318, 23 July 1898, Page 2

THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

(BY TELEGRAPH —PKIiSS ASSOCIATION). Wellington, Thursday. At the Municipal Conference this morning, several ameudmenta were suggested on the Municipal Corporations Bill, the chief of which was that the qualification of a councillor should be that he is a ratepayer. Jt was decided that licensing elections should be in the hands of local authorities ; that councils should have more satisfactory control over billiard and other such rooms situate on other than hotel premises; that largely-increased powers should be conferred on councils in regard to inspection of licensed premises and the cancellation of licenses ; that fuller police assistance ought to be given in enforcing by-laws; that the Government should endeavour to bring into operation a universal intercolonial law to treat all wife and children deserters as fugitives. The Conference decided that efectric powers for lighting and tramways should be vested in local authorities and controlled by a poll of ratepayers ; that provision be miide for the expense of tiehting the test cases of a nature generally affecting corporations by levy pro rata ou affiliated corporations ; that dwellings owned by the Government and occupied by the Government officials should be rated. Au amendment was suggested in the Municipal Corporations Bill to enable cities or boroughs to pay annual retiring allowances to their officers after continuous service of not less than 2u years, such allowances in no case to be more than two-thirds of the salary being paid to the officer at the time of his retirement. The Mayors of Auckland, Christchurch, Dunediu and Nelson were elected Vice-Presidents of the Municipal Association. A committee was set up to watch legislation affecting municipalities. The Conference had a short sitting in the afternoon, which finished the proceedings. The principal "business was a motion by Mr Louisson (Christchurch) to abolish the power held by gas companici to demand a deposit and refuse to supply gas to an incoming tenant in a house where the previous tenant hai not paid the gas bill. This, however, was lost.