CITY IMPROVEMENTS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 74, 20 December 1929, Page 8

CITY IMPROVEMENTS

WHO SHOULD PAY? BETTERMENT PRINCIPLE ADVOCATED Betterment is advocated by the Government Town Planner (Mr. Mawson) as one way of paying for street improvements. One remit to be forwarded by the Wellington City Council to the Municipal Conference advocates the provision of a workable betterment clause in the Public Works Act. The Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) said that he had consulted the Hon. Mr. de la Perrelle on the matter, and he appeared to favour it, but at the last moment he had the provision eliminated from the Bill as he thought it would not go through. He did not know why he had taken that course, as It would have been just the same in effect if the House had rejected the clause. It gave the House no chance to express an opinion. He had explained to the Minister that by not including the provision for betterment, he was creating great problems that would leave them high and dry, problems which In the future might cost the city hundreds of thousands of pounds. Yet nothing had been done. It would certainly be brought before the Municipal Association, and would be made a matter of chief concern. He sincerely hoped that the Town Planner's proposal would be included in the Bill next session and passed.