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-8i" Welsh PROPOSED l. COUIlty Couiicilsl ? New Association. t At the invitation of the Carnarvonshire County Council a meeting of representatives of Welsh County Councils was held at Shrewsbury on Friday, July 7th. The object was to consider the advisableness of forming an association of Welsh County j Councils, and the consideration of a schedule 1 of powers, which it was recommended should be transferred from the Privy Council, the Secretary of State, and the Local Government Board to the County Councils and joint committees of County Councils. On the motion of Mr. D. Lloyd i George, M.P., seconded by Mr. Hooson (Denbigh County Council), the Lord-Lieut- tenant of Carnarvonshire (Mr. J. E. Greaves) was voted to the chair. Representatives of the following County Councils and County Boroughs were pre- sent: Carnarvonshire: Messrs. J. E. Greaves, E. R. Da vies, and D. Lloyd f George M.P. Denbighshire: Messrs. Simon Jones, W. G. Dodd, and E. Hooson. Flintshire Messrs. J. Herbert Lewis, M.P., and J. L. Muspratt. Cardiganshire: Alder- man C. M. Williams, Aberystwyth. Gla- morganshire Mr. J. Hopkin Morgan, :Neath. Pembrokeshire: Rev. Lewis James, Narberth. Cardiff Borough: Mr. John Jenkins. Swansea, Borough: Messrs R. Martin (nwyor), Howell Watkins, and John Thomas (town clerk). Monmouth- shire Aldermen J. R. Jacob and Wilson Ruffeen were present, but inasmuch as they had not been duly appointed by their l Council they could not take any official part in the proceedings of the Conference. Mr. J. Bodvel Roberts (clerk to the Carnarvon- L shire County Council), who had acted as -convener of the Conferenc- was elected 'f secretary pro tem. The Chairman said, as the representative of Carnarvonshire, he had been asked by that Council to say how greatly that body appreciated the kindness and courtesy with which all the Counties of Wales had received and assented to the proposal that the con- ference should take place. That unanimity and cordiality augured well for the success of that Conference (hear, hear). The busi- V Hess was to discuss the question of devolving t on county councils further and wider powers How exercised by various Government de- partments. Those proposals were not born of any spirit of aggrandisement or of undue z:ln and misplaced ambition, but grew out of a desire to relieve the congestion of business n In the Government Departments, particularly that of the Local Government Board—(hear, iear)—whose delay in dealing with applica- l. tions was frequently a great hindrance to t Public business. They had a schedule to lay before them as a basis for discussion but whatever were the criticisms and alterations to which it might be submitted he trusted the Conference would unanimously and ener- getically uphold the principal proposition that the time had now come when in the interests of local government county councils should be invested with further and wider powers (applause). That was the funda- mental proposition of the Conference. The county councils had given a very good account of themselves—at any rate in Wales, with which he was more particularly Proved they could be safely trusted with far ^ider powers and responsibilities than they **Ow enjoyed (hear, hear). He had heard it. tinted that the obtaining of these extra Powers was part of a deeply-laid political PlOt-(Iaugl-iter) -veiling dark and danger- I Acquainted,—and he thought they had Proved they could be safely trusted with far ^ider powers and responsibilities than they **Ow enjoyed (hear, hear). He had heard it. tinted that the obtaining of these extra Powers was part of a deeply-laid political plot—(laughter)—veiling dark and danger- ous ulterior motives (renewed ^g^er). Nothing could be further from the truth (W, hear). That proposition was simply a straightforward, business proposal, and Was meant to enable county councils to dis- CVGE their important duties with which they had been entrusted with greater proxnpti'tude. If that Conference resulted in a better understanding and a closer union between the different counties of Wales, all he could say was so much the better for the ^incipality and for the interest of the P^ple (applause). Mr. Llovd-George, M.P., said he thought + they should first form an association of <2°Unty councils for Wales and Monmouth- shire. He moved—" That this Joint Com- mittee of duly appointed representatives of the county councils of Wales and Mon- mouthshire is of opinion that it is desii able to form an Association of the I county councils of Wales and Monmouth- shire That the title be 'The Joint National Council of Wales and Monmouth- shire.' That the following shall be the objects of the Council(1) To confer upon matter of common interests to the counties and county councils of Wales and Mon- mouthshire, and to take such action as may bg necessai'v in those interests to the counties and co««4 councils of Wales and Mon- t mouthshire, and to take such action as may be necessary in those interests. (2) To obtain the transfer to the county councils association and to the Welsh county Councils separately of such powers of Government Departments as are,by the Local Government Act,authorised to be tranferrred to county councils and to joint committees of county councils and as the council may deem ex- Departments as are,by the Local Government Act,authorised to be tranferrred to county councils and to joint committees of county councils and as the council may deem ex- Ipedient. Mr. J. Jenkins, Cardiff, seconded the motion, expressing regret at the unavoidable absence of the Mayor of Cardiff. Mr. Herbert Lt is, M.P., in supporting the motion, referred to what was done with f the same object in 1891, when conferences were held at Shrewsbury and Llandnndod. The difficulty then was chiefly as to the money •spending powers^of the County Councils, but years had elapsed, and it had become time they should make another attempt to get what they wanted. In England, perhaps, the opposition would be as active as ever, bu he did not think they would meet with any opposition in Wales, so that they could approach the Local Government Board 4 with a better chance of success. The resolution was carried unanimously. On the imotion of Mr. J. L. Muspratt, seconded by Mr. E. Hooson, it was agreed— That this Conference approves as a basis I for future discussion of the draft schedule, adopted by the Carnarvonshire County Council of the powers proposed to be trans- ferred to County Councils." Mr. Lloyd George moved, Mr. Jenkins (Cardiff) seconded, and it was carried, that a committee be appointed to draft the con- stitution of the association and to deal with the powers proposed to be transferred, the -eommitt.ee to report to each County Council and to a subsequent meeting of the associa- tion. Alderman C. M. Williams, Aberystwyth, suggested that tke Committee to be ap- pointed .should cousist of representatives from all the County Councils and County Boroughs of WYdes and Monmouthshire. In appointing a metiiber to represent each countv and borough the basis of representa- tion would ensure a more general interest being taken in the welfare and success of the proposed new association. After a short discussion. Alderman Williams' suggestion tion was unanimously adopted, a»d the following were elected for the respective Councils and County Boroughs NORTH WALES. Anglesey Mr. Lewis Hughes. Carnarvonshire: Messrs. J. E. Greaves and D. Lloyd George, M.P. Denbighshire: Mr. Simon Jones. Flintshire: Mr. J. Herbert Lewis, M.P. Merionethshire: The Hon. C. H. Wynn, Rug. Montgomeryshire Captain D. H. Mytton. SOUTH WALES. Breconshire Mr. Jones Parry. Cardiganshire Alderman C. M. Williams, Aberystwyth. Carmarthenshire: Mr. Joseph Maybery, chairman of Council. Glamorganshire Mr. Wiltor H. IMoigan, Pontvpridd. Pembrokeshire: Dr. G. Griffiths, Milford. Radnorshire Mr. R. Morgan, Rhayader. Monmouthshire: Alderman J. R. Jacob, Newport. Cardiff Borough Mr. John Jenkins. Newport Borough: Mr. T. H. Howell, mayor. Swansea Borough Mr. R. Martin, mayor. Mr. Lloyd-George, in moving a vote of thanks to the Chairman (Mr. Greaves), spoke of the enormous trouble he had taken in the matter, and said he was confident that under his leadership they would now march to victory (applause). Alderman C. M. Williams moved a vote of thanks to Mr. J. Bodvel Roberts, clerk to the Carnarvon County Council, for the great trouble he had taken in the preparation of the schedule of powers proposed to be transferred to County Councils, and for convening the Conference, and acting as secretary pro tem. This was agreed to un- animously. The next meeting was fixed for Llan- drindod on a date to be arranged early in September, This concluded the Conference.

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