LOCAL BODIES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18127, 17 July 1924, Page 10

LOCAL BODIES.

PROVISION FOR LEGISLATION.

(special to "the peess.")

WELLINGTON, July 16,

The Local Legislation Bill, Which was introduced by the Government last session, but not passed, has been brought down again unaltered, except for the omission of one clause. The purpose of the Bill is to provide machinery by means of which local bodies may obtain minor local legislation without recourse to the "W aahing-up" Bill, and their ratepayers and others interested may have full notice of what is proposed to be enacted and opportunity to oppose it if they so desire. One notable objection to the present method of including such legislation in the "Washing-up" Bill is that the various clauses of the Bill cannot be considered* by special committees, and are apt to be passed without adequate discussion, and those interested have practically no opportunity of being heard. The Bill provides that a local authority shall submit its proposals in a concrete form to the Minister of Internal Affairs in order that they may be considered by the Government. If the Minister is satisfied that the legislation should 'be presented to Parliament, he publishes in the* "Gazette" a notice to that effect, together with a copy of the proposed clauses, so that ratepayers, members of Parliament, Government Departments, and persons interested may have full opportunity to take any desired action before the matter comes under the notioe of Parliarment. The Bill permits the Minister to. approve a clause or clauses' provisionally, subject to certain modifications being made. Objections are to be made in writing to the Minister, who must forward particulars to the local authority concerned, in order that' both parties may appear before a Parliamentary Committee. The clauses as Gazetted are to be incorporated in an Annual Local Legislation Bill t which shall not contain any other matter. Nothing in the Bill is to be deemed to interfere with the right of any local authority to initiate local legislation in, the „ ordinary way by means of a Local Bill.

The only difference between the present Bill and that of last session is the omission of a clause providing that no application shall be received by the Minister after the first two months of a session have expired.