LOCAL BODY LOANS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26672, 5 March 1952, Page 6

LOCAL BODY LOANS

b t -jfrj CHANGE IN LAW CRITICISED

DECISION BY MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION (New Zealand Press Association) ROTORUA, March 4The Public Bodies Loans Amendment Act, requiring local bodies to take a poll on a loan proposal it 5 per cent, of the ratepayers demanded it, had caused a vexatious delay in such matters as housing, said Mr J; G. Churchill of Wellington, at the Municipal Association’s conference to-day. Some propositions, he said, had become impossible because of this. He moved that the Government be asked to reinstate the privilege that local bodies had formerly. Mr R. M- Macfarlane, M.P., of Christchurch, said he had learned with amazement that some of the powers formerly enjoyed had been taken from local bodies. Christchurch had recently applied to the Local Government Loans Board for a loan to build homes for the aged. The machinery that now had to be employed held up the whole business, and meant that action now had to be taken that previously was not required. The president (Mr N. H. Moss) said that the new procedure was not an accident but definite Government policy on the advice of the Treasury. He urged the conference to accept the legislation and see how it worked. Mr Macfarlane .said he was asking only that privileges local bodies had had in the past be left to them. Delay under the new legislation now put the Christchurch proposal, which would have been of immense benefit to citizens, beyond the reach of the council. He said it would be very simple to amend the act so that something could be given to local bodies that they believed would be of benefit to . the ratepayers. • The motion was carried.