WHEN INTERESTS CLASH

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 220, 16 September 1924, Page 4

WHEN INTERESTS CLASH

I PROVISIONS IN CITY BILL. '■ TO PROTECT PUBLIC: GOOD. The progress through Parliament of . the Auckland City Empowering Bill, which is at present before the Legislative Council, was referred to this morn- '■ in" by the. Mayor in answer to a question on the subject. Sir James Gunson, who has just returned to the city after | a fortnight's absence, remarked that , the bill had now reached the committee sta«-e .in the Upper Chamber, and was • due" for its second reading there at any • time. The amendments made in the i Lower House did not vitally affect the : principles of the bill, and were, as he i had previously stated, all acceptable to I i the Council. He added that the mea- ! sure would give to the Council much- • l needed powers in connection with . I street improvement schemes and works ■l of a public character —powers which it . | was essential for the civic administra- j I I tion of a rapidly developing city like | ! Auckland to possess, as from time to | 1 1 time the occasion arose to exercise i them. , "As a matter of fact," said Sir James, I "although it has been suggested that the powers are wide, they are not wide enough to admit of a progressive and j active administration, exercising powers solely in the public interest for improvements of a far-reaching magnitude. Any criticism offered against . the bill so far seems to have been advanced by those who have entirely overlooked the fact that the public interest alone is represented in this measure, and that private interests, properly safeguarded and recompensed as provided for in the Council's measure must always be on those terms subservient to the public good. The history of the past shows how all public administrations have been placed in connection with works of public importance where lands have been required. It is ' not in the public interest, where values run into huge figures as soon as it is known that certain lands are required for some community purpose, that such conditions should be allowed to continue. "Further .important provisions in the bill relate to the Orakei waterfront railway, and as son as the bill passes into law the local authorities concerned will confer with the City Council, with a view to negotiations with the Government. The Prime Minister lias already agreed to contribute towards. the cost of the roadway to be built in conjunction with the r&'lway reclamation, which it is "proposed to put in hand almost .immediately."