AMALGAMATION OF BOROUGHS

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21034, 9 December 1933, Page 16

AMALGAMATION OF BOROUGHS

COMPULSORY CLAUSE DROPPED AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, December 8. The elimination of the provision for compulsory amalgamation of boroughs is the principal amendment to the Municipal Corporations Bill as it was reported back to the House of Representatives to-day by the Local Bills Committee. This provision, which was contained in subclauses 2 and 3 of clause 141 of the bill, declares that a commission may be appointed, consisting of a magistrate, the local Commissioner ot Crown Lands, and the district valuer, to report on the proposal for the amalgamation of boroughs, and that on its report, the GovernorGeneral may by proclamation constitute the boroughs one united borough. Representations against these sub-clauses were made recently by a deputation which waited on the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes), and they are now omitted from the bill, leaving the provisions ooverning amalgamation of boroughs exactly the same as they are under the existing law. The two subclauses were the most controversial in the whole bill, and their omission practically assures the passage ot the measure this session. Bv another amendment to the bill, municipalities are empowered to lay out grass plots or Apwer beds on any street, and to prohibit traffic from passing over these beds. The clause giving a council power to require owners of land in ceitain cases to provide private drains is amended so that no owner shall be required to construct a private drain to connect with a pubhc dram or the sea at a point more than 100 ft from his land, or to construct any private drain for drainage of a building of a length of more than A council's powers regarding dangerous buildings are extended by another amendment. The onginal bill provided that these powers might be exercised only it any building was in a ruinous condition so as to "be dangerous to the public. Tlv amendment declares that a c " may use its powers if it is satisfied that any building is in such condition as to be dangerous to the pub--1 i f* it is now provided that the expenses incurred by a council on unoccupied land which the owner being unknown, is liable to P d >» shall become a charge on the land, and shall for all purposes be regarded as a separate i ate. Building Lines. Two amendments of some impoitance are made to the clauses m the bill dealing with a council s to make by-laws fixing building lines. The original bill provided that anv person having an intelest in any land or building affected by these by-laws should be cnl ' tled claim compensation, and that tl total amount of compensation should not exceed the difference between the value of the whole of the land or building before dedication, or the taking of a portion, and the value of the remainder afterwards. According to the committee s amendment, the words or building omitted in each place, and it is piovidpd that the total compensation shall not exceed the difference between the value of the whole of the land, exclusive of the buildings, and the value of the remainder, exclusive of the buildings, after the dedication or taking of any portion of the land. NEW ZEALAND'S NAVY COST DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE DEFENCE ESTIMATE PASSED (TRESS ASaOCTAJ'IOS TF.LEC.RiM.) WELLINGTON, December 8. Doubt as to whether New Zealand was getting value for the money spent on naval defence was expressed by Mr F. Langstone (Lab., Waimarino) when the estimate of £405,245 for naval defence was submitted in the House of Representatives to-night. "Does the Minister think our tinpot navy will be of any use in the event of an attack by the Germans, Japanese, or anyone else?" he asked. "We must have spent tens of thousands on manoeuvres in the Hauraki Gulf. Spending money is all right, but there are right and wrong ways of spending it. It would be better to spend it on bread for hungry people than on powder and shot. Mr Langstone added that if money were spent on some form of aerial defence it might be possible to hold off a foreign invader —not that he contemplated a foreign invasion. He asked whether the Minister thought the navy would be able to deal with a crisis if -it occurred. Mr C. Carr (Lab., Timaru) said the Minister had stated last year that it was the policy of the Government progressively to decrease naval expenditure, yet there was an increase in this year's vote. It is only a pretence, maintaining these boats, for all the use they would be, particularly in the event of an attack by air," he declared. Mr J. A. Lee (Lab., Grey Lynn) said he believed New Zealand's best method of preparing to defend herself would be to develop the country and build up population. However, he thought better technical results than were being obtained today could be procured with less expenditure. It must be questionable, with some of the obsolete units we possessed, whether we were getting value for the money, and he considered that better results could be obtained from aerial defence

Samoan Position

"Is it proposed to bring the navy in to police Samoa because the civil authorities are bungling?" Mr Lee asked. "It has been done before." The Hon. J. G. Cobbe said Mr Lee's reference to the possibility of the navy going to Samoa had been the first he had heard of it. There was no intention of doing so, "I should be very sorry to think that those members of the Opposition who have spoken are expressing the views of the Opposition as a whole," the Minister said, adding that he was satified that was not the position. The British Navy had had a very

proud record, and had practically built up our Empire. "Although our division is very small, the men on these cruisers would be prepared to do their duty," he said. "There had been many instances in history when a few British ships have given a splendid account of themselves. I would remind members of Sir Richard Grenville." (Hear, hear.) Continuing, the Minister said the work of the New Zealand Navy had been of considerable value. Mr Lee: Do you think we arc getting the best results for the money spent? Mr Cobbe: Considering' that we have only two ships, we are getting excellent results. No one can question the efficiency of our navy. Mr J. Hargest (C., Invercargill) said the cost of the navy to the people of New Zealand was only 5s a head. He was convinced that the remarks made by Labour speakers did not represent the views of the majority of the people. Mr G. R. Sykes (C., Masterton) said the Britsh Navy was the most important factor in keeping the Empire intact, and he was convinced that enough was not being spent in naval defence, Mr R. A. Wright (Ind., Wellington Suburbs) said there were several people in New Zealand who were doubtful whether the ships of the New Zealand Navy would be of any value in case of a first-class war. The vote was passed. The estimate of £229,000 for the Defence Department was also passed.