LOCAL BODIES’ POWERS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 254, 23 July 1936, Page 10

LOCAL BODIES’ POWERS

Noxious Weeds Eradication PENALTY ON UNPAID RATES Several clauses affecting local authorities are included in the Finance Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday by Governor-General’s message. One clause empowers county councils to raise loans without polls for the eradication of noxious weeds, although in no case can moneys be borrowed for this purpose for a term exceeding ten years. Authority, subject to the usual provisions, is also given for local bodies to remit the additional charge of 10 per cent, on unpaid rates. Subsidies on rates collected by borough councils are restored and will be payable in respect of rates levied for the year ended March 31, 1936, and for every subsequent year. The rates of annual grants payable to fire boards are also restored to date from the current financial year. It is provided that loans made to local authorities by the State Advances Corporation for housing purposes may be paid either out of the funds of the corporation or out of the housing account The source of payment will be at the option of the board of management of the corporation. BANK NOTE DUTY Abolition From Next Month The abolition of bank note duty as from August 1 is provided for in the Finance Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday by Governor-General’s message. The Bill provides that bank note duty is to be paid in respect of the month of July, but will not be payable subsequently. The duty to be paid for this month is to be computed at the rate of 7/6 per,£loo of the amount paid or payable by any bank to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand under the terms of the original Reserve Bank Act. The duty will be due on August 1. The relevant legislation regarding the payment of bank note duty is to be repealed on August 31, but this repeal will not affect the liability of any bank for unpaid duty or the right of the Crown to recover any such duty. SHORTER WORKING WEEK Additional Exemptions

Power to provide for additional exemptions from the limitation of working hours under the Factories Amendment Act is given in the Finance Bill which was introduced in the House of Representatives by Governor-General’s Message yesterday. Certain factories are already exempted from the restrictions of hours of work and the Bill provides that additional classes of works or factories may be added to the list by Order-in-Council. There is also provision for modification by Order-in-Council with respect to factories which may be specified of the requirements of the Factories Amendment Act regarding work in dairy factories, the payment of holiday wages and the prevention of accidents. Orders-in-Council under this section of the Bill may be made Retrospective to July 1. SUPERANNUATION Contribution of £200,000 to State Funds Authority for the payment of £200,000 out of the Consolidated Fund into State superannuation funds is given in the Finance Bill which was Introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday by GovernorGeneral’s Message. It is provided that during the current financial year, without any fur-, ther appropriation, the Minister of Finance may direct the payment of moneys into the Public Service Superannuation Fund, the Teachers’ Superannuation Fund and the Government Railways Superannuation Fund. The payments in the aggregate are not to exceed £200,000, and are to be in addition to any other moneys payable from the Consolidated Fund to the superannuation funds. FRUIT INDUSTRY Information as to whether the Government proposed to do anything this year to assist the fruit export industry and those orchardists who were in difficulties was sought in notice of question given in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. H. M. Christie (Government, Waipawa). Associated with Mr. Christie in his question were Mr. Speaker, Hon. W. E. Barnard (Napier), and Mr. E. L. Cullen (Government, Hawke’s Bay).