COUNTY COUNCILS' CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5105, 16 August 1895, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCILS' CONFERENCE.

Bjj Tekijrtijih.—l'ms Am'iii/imi. Wui.i.wtox, Wednesday. The following further resolutions have been passed by the Conference : "That the Government bo requested to amend the Rutin;,' Act so as to enable county authorities to collect rates upon the value of the timber, etc., growing upon land, when the persons acquiring the right to cut timber, etc., are not the owners of the land." ".It was decided that provision be made that when at any time it comes to the knowledge of a local body that some extraordinary tralli l : is to lake place, the local body be given power to compel the person about to carry the same, to divide the loads or wait for line weather, or to pay for the damage done." " That it should be made a part of the duty of the Commissioner of Crown Lands or Registrar of Deeds to notify the local body immediately any Crown laud is alienated." " That no borough be formed with a less population than 2000, ami that every borough so formed must have the area of not more than oua square mile to every thousand of population."

"That theUovernment be respectfully requested not to proceed beyond the second reading of tho new Local Government Bill this session, to . enable the local bodies to express an jj opinion thereon before it passess ' Q into law," j, "That subsection o of section 2 of | the Rating Act, 1891, be amended I so as to make occupiers of small o grazing runs pay the same rates as 1 the ordinary leaseholder." ® "That the Government Loans to tJ Local Bodies Act be so amouded as ] to give to local bodies power lo raise a loans for the remetalling of worn s out roads." " That the majority required in the Loans to Local Bodies Act to carry a loan proposal be a majority of votes excisable, or two-thirds of those cast." " That this Conference protests against any legislation that will j enable non-ratepayers to vote on i matters affecting local government." .> " That the regulations of the Asso- I ciation be amended so that no dele- ■ gate shall be entitled to more than one vote." " That tho powers granted to certain counties under the Counties Vehicles Act, 1893, be extended to all counties." " That this Conference regrets the delay • in bringing down the Local Government Bill, which has prevented this representative gathering discussing the proposed measure and strongly urges the circulation of the Bill among local bodies before being passed into law •„ and that members of the House present at the Conference, with the president and Executive Committee ef the Association, be a sub-committee to watch the interests 'of tlie Ifew Zealand counties on conncctiqn with the pro,posed change." " That where special rating area defined for loan purpose under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, or part of such area, is subsequently included within the boundaries of a new county, the new county have power to levy and collect the original special rafe'made as security for any 'loan, and pay amounts so collect to original body or direct to the Treasury, towards payday of such loan, And that power be granted to make new rate roll from original roll oE area includ--1 cd in new country as evidence of new local authority's power to levy and 1 collect the rate. Also power where the wholo of original area is in new 1 country, to now country to tako over 1 all responsibility for original loan." 1 At 5 p.m. the Conference adjour- ' ned until Thursday morning. On resuming, the Ijalance Sheet, ! shqwinff a credit oE £lB was read, • The principal jpifipss tiikcp was f the discussion of (.lie Hospital fjnrl • Oiiavitablo Aid rates, whioli several : mombers said pressed unduly on f their districts,

The Uonferer.ce was in favor of making tho method of levying more clear, and that tho rate should be based upon all property, real and personal, A resolution was passed that for ■roads of colonial importance Parliament should refund the total cost for main district roads, and givo a subsidy of £. for £. for purely 1 local roads, and then the present subsidy, oil rates. ' ! ' ■ The Conference expressed strong disapproval of tho Public 'rondel's and Contracts 1 Bill,'s6 far' as relatdd to carrying out contracts utider local bodies. " 1