THE MAYORAL CONFERENCE

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 130, 7 May 1872, Page 6

THE MAYORAL CONFERENCE

The Mayoral Conference, convened by Mr Fish, Mayor of Dunedin, opened in tlie City Council Chambers, in Dunedin, on Tuesday, April 30. Most of the Municipalities in the Province were represented. Nothing of any moment was transacted on the first day of sitting ; but we take the following condensed report of the subsequent proceedings from the Daily Times ;— Second Day. In accordance with a resolution arrived at at the previous meeting, a Sub-Committee had waited upon His Honor the Superintendent and the Executive, and brought under their notice the question of subsidising the municipalities, with a view to ascertaining whether the Government was inclined to renew the subsidy in its old form, or endow the municipalities with local taxes, namely, —general publicans’ licenses, night licenses, bottle licenses, and wholesale spirit licenses, the watermen’s and auctioneers’ licenses, dog and goat taxes, raised within their boundaries ;—which latter alternative the Conference was in favour of. His Honor, it was stated, replied that the Government had anticipated the wishes of the deputation, and intended to frame an ordinance to give effect to their request, but attached to the granting of it the condition that the municipalities should

be at the cost of maintaining the main roads through them after the same had been formed. The Mayors of Dunedin and Port Chalmers, in the course of a conversation which followed, expressed the opinion that this proposal of the Government would suit their municipalities very well ; but the country Mayors all believed that their respective municipalities would rather lose than gain by the proposed arrangement. The Mayor of Lawrence eventually moved that the proposition of the Government be accepted, “ contingent upon the agreement that that portion of the offer relative to the maintenance of main roads apply to the City of Dunedin only.” This motion was earned, and a deputation was appointed to wait on the Superintendent with reference to the matter. Third Day. The Sub-committee appointed to wait upon the Superintendent reported that the Government had stated that they would not go back from their proposal in regard to the particular relating to the maintenance of main roads within municipal boundaries ; but had pointed out that no municipality would be expected to maintain any road until it had first been permanently formed and metalled by the Government ; and further, that they would be disposed to consider favourably any case of special hardship. The Conference eventually agreed to accept the Government’s proposition ; the Mayor of Oamaru only appearing to consider that his municipality would lose under the new arrangement. Fourth Day. Some of the Mayors reported that they had had interviews with the M.P.CVs for their districts, and with other members of the Council; and it was resolved that every effort should be made to have the Government scheme made law. The Mayor of Lawrence moved that the Conference be dissolved, and that a vote of thanks be accorded to the Mayor of Dunedin for his action in initiating and guiding the movement. The motion and vote of thanks were carried unanimously ; and the meeting dissolved.