LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 258, 1 August 1928, Page 12

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

WIDER POWERS PROPOSED IMPORTANT AMENDING BILL DEBATE INHOUSE . Various aspects of local body government were-' discussed in the House of Representatives last night on the second reading- of the Municipal Corporations Amendment -Bill. The Attorney-General (Hon. IP. J. Rolleston) said that the Bill contained 58 clauses and was. the first important amendment to the Municipal, Corporations Act for a good many years. Some of the provisions were very important, the ■ object being to give, wider power to municipalities - and in 'that way to keep abreast of the times. Generally speaking, the Bill gave , effect mainly to resolutions passed from time to time by municipal conferences, while other portions of. the'Bill were the result of experience. ■ Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon) expressed satisfaction that local bodies would be given an opportunity to give evidence before a special committee which it was proposed to set up to go into the Bill. In his - opinion, the tendency of the measure so far as the trading accounts were concerned was not to wideli but to. restrict the powers of local bodies. Powers Not Reduced. . Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston) said the’ introduction of the Bill had ■ been looked forward to by the municipal associations. He contended that it gave quite a number of ( concessions to the local bodies, and deprecated the suggestion that it whittled away, their powers. The' Bill contained some very good | clauses indeed,, especially those providing for a reduction of valuation of farming lauds not suitable for subdivision for building purposes and the erection of shops by borough councils. The latter clause, he said, would be greatly appreciated. He .commended the Minister for including a claues regarding the licensing of buildings for public meetings. On the whole the Bill was what was asked for, and he congratulated the Minister on having brought it down. Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) expressed the opinion that , the provisions contained in the Bill were far-reaching | and would, give increased powers to the municipalities. ■ • Removal of Anomalies. “I think we ought to recognise," said Sir John Luke (Wellington North), ‘‘that the delegates to the municipal conferences' are real specialists in connec- | tion with municipal government.” He thought that the Bill was an honest endeavour to remove some, of the anomalies which existed - at present. and to give greater facilities for sound and wise government of municipalities. He trusted that the committee .would go fully into the question of water rates with a view to altering the present inequitable system. It was-a matter for congratulation that the Acts of Parliament made it possible for local bodies to carry out their functions to the satisfaction of the people generally. The administration was a compliment to those engaged in public life. . ‘‘Community and Long Faces." Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East) strongly opposed the clause regarding the licensing of • buildings for public meetings. Local bodies, he contended, should not be given the power to regulate the amusements of the people. “I Take strong exception to the clause giving the anti-smiling section of the community power to regulate the sport of the people,” declared Mr. Lee, who considered that power was being given “to the wowsers to introduce'laws'that would make for a community of long faces.” He had heard a lot about secret cubicles at a certain dance hall in Auckland, and subsequently went there to investigate. (Loud laughter.) He found it was. as well conducted as any hall in ‘Australasia. The Prime Minister (laughingly) : Will -you tell us where this happy place is? ■ .. The : Minister of Lands: .Yes, the advertisement would not be complete without the. name. > Mr. Lee: I have an idea that the Prime Minister has been at this place. I honestly' give the Prime Minister credit'for being sufficient of a sport to relax -in'this place. “Give us the name,” demanded several voices. Mr. Lee: “I refer to Dixieland.” He trusted the Prime Minister was not going to stand by the clause which had been thrust in the Bill by u community who were only able to be happy themselves, when everybody else around them was. miserable. “Rating on unimproved values is all right in the four cities where the growth is so rapid that the suburbs are quickly i built, but it,is no use in borewghs where 1 the growth of the population is not so fast,” said the Hon. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi). (■‘or that reason, he welcomed the clause in the Bill which gives borough councils power to have farm lands not suitable for sub division specially valued for rating purposes. Mr. Buddo asked the Lands Department if it were prepared to give up for the benefit of the communities as reserves, small areas which were owned in towns, and which were not suitable for building purposes. The Minister of Lands (Hon. A. D. McLeod) : They are all provided for in another Bill. Mr. J. Mason (Napier) lectured Mr. Lee for portraying members of local bodies as persons of long faces and doleful character who wished to prevent the people from amusing themselves. Mr. Mason thought the clause in the Bill giving greater control over places of amusement was a very wise one, which amply protected the entrepreneurs. As a point of personal explanation. Mr Lee said he did not say all councillors were long-faced wowsers, but there were people of that class who wished to regulate awav the amusements or others who could enjoy healthy, clean fun. Minister's Reply. Replying to the debate at 0.25 a.m., the Attorney-General said that some of the' speeches .of " the ■ Labour" members

1 had .been somewhat inconsistent. Mr.Sullivan had described the Bill as “reactionary” and “conservative” —(laughter) —and Mr. Armstrong as-' “revolutionary” and “far-reaching” (Renewed laughter.) Replying to a complaint by Mr J A. Lee, the Minister said that if a council were given the power to license a building that necessarily carried with it power to impose conditions. Mr. J. A. Lee: They will impose the curfew! The Minister said that if the majority of a council were reasonable men, he did not know what Mr. Lee had to fear. The clause had been asked for bv the Municipal Conference. That was all the Department knew about it. “Mr. Lee has let us into a little inner history I have not heard before,” added the Minister.” It was a fact that the prior right of payment for such things as electric light installations did affect the mortgage security. Although the installations did add to the value of the property, it was not true that the value was increased by the cost price of the work done. The Minister added that the representations concerning the Bill had been noted. There was no intention of rushing the Bill through, and opportunity of making representations on it by persons interested, would be afforded. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the select committee set up.