CONFERENCE OF COUNTY COUN CILS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3084, 21 April 1892, Page 2

CONFERENCE OF COUNTY COUN CILS.

A conterbn'OE of County Council delegates was commenced yesterday in Auckland. The delegates are as follows:— Mongonui County, Mr R. M. Houston, M.H.R. ; Bay of Islands County, Messrs John Press and G. F. Dickeson; Whangarei County, Mr J. D. MoKenzie; Hobson County, the Chairman; Hokianga County, Mr A. C. Yarborough ; Otamatea County, Mr John Isbister; Whangaroa County, Mr M. Lane; Rodney County. Mr Ed. Browne: SVaitemata County, Mr R. Mackay ; Coromandel County, Mr A. H. Swindley; Thames County, Mr James Coutts ; Ohinemuri County, Mr Edwin Edwards ; Tauranga County, Captain McMillan, J P. ; Waikato County, Mr Isaac Coates; Win pa County, the Chairman; Raglan County, the Chairman. The Piako County is not represented. The business to be transacted is the consideration of a variety of questions of great interesto local bodies. Among them are : , ~ , (1) That additional powers should bo conferred on County Councils, such as the administration of Crown lands and the survey and construction of roads, to open up lands for sale, etc. (2) That Counties are as much in need ot endowments as Boroughs or Harbour Boards, and are equally entitled thereto. (3) That lands held by natives in the Counties renresented should bear a share of the cost of the construction of roads, bridges, etc. (4) That in lieu of the present contributions from local bodies for Hospital and Charitable Aid, all fees under the Licensing Act for publicans' and packet licenses be paid direct to the Charitable Aid Board for that purpose. (5) That all licenses for business of any kind issued in any County ba County Revenue ; that all gumdiggero be licensed and all lands rated for local purposes, except cemeteries and burial grounds. (G) That the Counties' Act should be amended, with the view of remedying the present abuse of tho miners' right vote, whereby persous not qualified to appear on Ratepayers' Roll, usurp the privileges intended only for bona fide miners. (7) That it is highly desirable that the number of Local Governing Bodies now in existence should be reduced, that the work done by Charitable Aid Boards, Road Boards, Town Boards, Domain Boards, Licensing Committees, and School Committees could be done equally well by County Conncils at an enormous saving of expense to the ratepayers. There are other matters such as the amending the Rating Act so that no single property should be valued at a lees amount than would yield 2s Gd at a rate of jjd in the £ ; and other questions, but the above will show that the Conference has a good deal of business to consider.