"BOOK OF RULES."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 249, 20 October 1928, Page 10

"BOOK OF RULES."

ADVICE TO HOUSEHOLDERS;

AMERICAN CITY'S FLAH.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

Municipal control in American cities does not appear to be carrieed out on exactly -the same lines as that provided under the principal Municipal Corporation Act of New . Zealand. From the Engineering Department of the City of Los Angeles there is issued an interesting little brochure with the title of "Typical Questions Answered" for the information "of residents. The' little booklet contains a host of information dealing with matters of popular interest, and set out in the form of questions and answers. Apart from the interest in the general information given, and in the publication of it by a city corporation (says the Wellington "Post"), local citizens will be intrigued with the manner in which the residents in the respective cities share in civic responsibility.

The chairman of the Works Committee of the Wellington City Council. Councillor H. D. Bennett, In discussing the brochure, remarked that the Los Angeles people were exhorted to ask for information, and the "book of rules" forthwith set out to ask and answer of every conceivable kind appertaining to matters commonly found to perplex * the garden variety householder.

"But the most interesting feature to us," continued Mr. Bennett, "is the apparently accepted share of responsibility borne by the owners of properties for the cost of street curbing and footpaths opposite their homes. I wonder how any of our local ratepayers' associations would re«ard the position as revealed in the following:—

Question: I want to get the street in front of my property resurfaced. How can I get it done? Answer: Streets and alleys that h ®y e been improved by grading and oiling may be ordered resurfaced by the City. Council if the public interest requires it, the cost thereof to be assessed against the propertv benefited. Question: The city does not sprinkle the street in front of my Why is this not done?

Answer:' Spriatfag senfo-fc |M> to improved streets - oafy, "• only when the snrfaee is wan.

"From many. other aaswen concludes -that than; is in the' Stateaontof orfiwijw* said Mr. Bemett Taapamy *fs» ofmaterialonstroeta mw was possible only witha pa«it *M fee. pwoM^T to *r* place ofloealby-laws/aad tti of' these -most t to those concerned. dom went beyond the forty-mh^^ ■and. Oae aoswsringß^fl^^yj^ the city forces tyiw 'f cleaner. "Unimprorpd" strata, remained the BsHßty of nate senough to own the' aajJJgJr*, perties. There were "partJ«"r**W~ in the haulage: of rohthh premises, and they ""f ordinances and prescribed from residences .oa the othg removed by the city in the down-town - distnet.— No.-35421." # •The pohlication ♦erest, and offers a snff*®®i Bennett, "fc the there wonld he little _ ♦he local authorities are «fai«P .^ fathers, while inAwerfca rather to he oeeopymg W&* " '* oolicemen." . -