Municipal Conference.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4763, 3 July 1894, Page 3

Municipal Conference.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

. buisotos, Monday. At tlio Municipal Conference; Mr Jlrandon moved a resolution expressing the sense of the Conference's gratefulness, for the assistance it always had been afforded by Die late Mr Ballance. J n doing so ho spoke of the great assistance the late Premier had rendered 111 'Jl c formation of the Association. Mr Fish in seconding the resolution expressed the opinion that if Mr Halance had lived the Municipal Corporations Bill, prepared by the Conference would have been passed. llio resolution was carried and a copy ordered to bp sent to Mrs Uallanee. ,A deputation was appointed to interview the Premier this afternoon with reference to the Consolidated Municipal Bill, framed by Mr Mlnneo beforo his death.

Amendment!) in (lie Bating Acts were Mitred, mid a proposal by the Mayor j Ihrislchurch, to exempt those schools lone that are carried on " exclusively" iithont. profit, was lost, as also was iroposal by Mr Guinness, M.H.8., tha o property whatever should b xcmpt. The question of option as regards rat ng on unimproved values', was not dis lissed, (lie subject being of a politica haraeter, A Committee ivns (tpj)oiuted to brim p a report on question of loan eonver tons, and the Conference then ad ourned till next day. At half-past seven o'clock last evenini deputation from the Municipal Con ereiice was introduced to Hie Premier lr Ir Croivtlier, M.H.li. The Hon. the Premier intimated hi 'Jeasure at meeting the delegates, whos erviccs, in eonferenee assembled, wcr f fireat value.. The Government, h ■light indicate, intended passing a eon obdated measure dealing with locn todies tins session, embodying th mended Hill of last session and tin iiensiire before the Homo two vear go. _ 1 Mr Fish asked the Premier a queslioi 11 regard to what the Government's in cntion was so far as the extension o lie municipal franchise was concerned tii J fm ' or sn ' ( l 'l'lt in the opinio: J the, Government there should be in Iteration iu regard to the limnicipa rnitchise, and, if anything, it would b n the direction of extension. lii regard to the Fire Brigade Bill ho Premier said the Government hai lot considered the question of bringinj n a Bdl this session. There wcro t ;reat many questions to bo dealt with nit if the new standing orders weri lassed there was a chance of legislatioi jeing passed in every subject possible the live brigades' question was om iiirronndod by a certain degree of im lorlancc, tor it was a big question, and n itisopiiiion,insurance companies ough obe made to contribute towards tliei Maintenance. He hoped the Municipal conference delegates would arrive a iomo sound conclusions and be in i position to make practical suggestion: to the Government, which they coult net upon if desirable. After thanking the Premier, tin deputation withdrew. . , Wkllixgtox, Tuesday, IJie Municipal Conference resume: this morning. A lengthy letter was re raved from the Secretary of the Typo graphical Society (which recently .sat ii Wellington) with regard to local bodie and printing contracts, It was luimitci as received.

, The proposed Consolidating Bill was referred to Special Committee. ' The suggested amendments to the Municipal Corporations Act, 1880," ttoro thou considered, Tlio proposal that corporation officials should bo ap. ■ pointed special constables, was lost. It was decided that the penalties recoverable) bv corporations under nil statutes > should form part of borough funds, A special committee of (lie Municipal Conference to appointed to consider 1 the proposal that, in view of the high rate of interest paid by local bodies throughout the Colony upon their various loans, and the relief which lvould bo afforded to the taxpayer, the Government bo asked to propound a scheme for Hie consolidation of such loans into the Government guarautce thrco and a half per ceut loan. The Committee reported favourably on the proposal and recommended (bat the Government be asked to formulnts a scheme. The Committee pointed out that the annual interest on loans offered by local bodies (exclusive of the Government loans under "Tho Loans to local Bodies Act," and Hirers nnd Bridges Construetiou. Act ) averages over live and a half per cent per annum, and the averngo charge for sinking funds over one half per cent, per nnnuin. They consider that the Accrued sinking funds would go far in making up the difference between existing loans taken at par and the same as now standing in flic market and further that tho Government would take no risk in the matter, as any of the various local authorities could easily pay three and a half per cent, on their respective loans! The scheme if carried out would effect a sav.'ng to the ratepayers of the Colony of upwards of £155,000 yearly. Tlit of the committeo on the Loan Conversion, was adopted. Tho Legislation Committee suggested I that tlirllawkcrs'BillfiliouldljDamemlcd to prov.'de for a fee of five pounds for each Ishnd, instead of five pounds for the whole colony, nnd that penalties go to the funds of the borough in which the conviction is recorded. The Committee a so pointed out that if tho Noxious Weeds Bili were passed in its present shape, a hea?y expense would be thrown on the Boro igh Councils in connection with the eradication of gorse, etc. The report was adopted nnd the conference then adjourned till to-morrow.