Power Bids Criticised

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31170, 21 September 1966, Page 3

Power Bids Criticised

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. Local authorities were criticised by the chairman of the Parliamentary Local Bills Committee, Mr A. E. Allen (Govt., Franklin) for their “growing tendency” to seek special powers for their own areas.

“If granted, they could bring about a confusing multiplicity of conditions relating to local government and have repercussions throughout the country,” he said. Mr Allen was reporting that the Local Bills Committee rejected the East Coast Bays Borough’s proposed legislation for a new system of rating for the Auckland area. “As matters are at present, it is hard enouglr for the average ratepayer and taxpayer to know and understand his individual rights and privileges and reconcile them with the conditions and obligations placed on him by various governing authorities,” he said.

The chairman added that Parliament should be concerned that the ratepayer and taxpayer should not be further confused.

The Local Bills Committee described the East Coast Bays Empowering Bill as unclear in its definition. It has suggested that the radical innovations proposed should be examined in a much wider context than the circumstances of one local authority. Orders Down

The value of overseas orders placed by surveyed firms in July, 1966, the first month of this licensing year, was 11 per cent lower than orders placed in July, 1965, the Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton) told Parliament.

A survey which covered about half of private imports showed that orders in July. 1966, were valued at £14.4 million compared with £16.2 million in July, 1965. Trade Fairs

The Government felt that carefully selected overseas trade fairs were a valuable method of giving publicity to New Zealand’s exports, both in boosting the sale of established products, and the in-

troduction of new items, Mr Shelton said in reply to a question from Mr G. F. Sim (Govt., Piako). Consideration was being given to Italy and West Germany for exhibiting next year, to returning to the British Columbia International Trade Fair in Vancouver, and perhaps participating in a third European fair.