SPECIAL MEETING OF CITY BOARD.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2711, 26 March 1866, Page 5

SPECIAL MEETING OF CITY BOARD.

A sPECiii meeting of the City Board of Commissioners was he^d. at their offices, Canada Buildings, at three o'clock on Saturday after* noon, to consider the Auckland Municipal Police Act, 1866. Present : Messrs. J. W. Bain (chairman), Ashton, George, Turnbull, Swanson, Wrigley, Macready, and Sheehan. The CHAtEiiiN said they were all doubtless aware of the object of the meeting.' Having been a party to the passing of the Act in the Provincial Council, he naturally wished to see it carried oat. He had no. idea, that the carrying out of the Act was to be put upon the City Board, more particularly when he saw the notificationin the Provincial Government Gazette *%}£ Thursday last extending the boundaries of the city within which the Act should come into force. All the boundaries mentioned were more ! or less beyond the boundaries of the city. The fourth clause of the Act was the one they had met to consider : — " The Superintendent may from time to time, by public notice in the Provincial Government Gazette, appoint such person or public body as he shall think fit, to be the local authority hereinafter referred to for any city, town, or other place to which this Act shall be applicable, and may alter and revoke such appointment." He had been asked to accept the Act on behalf of the City Board, which he declined to do ; and it was for the members of the Board to say if they would accept, or decline to accept, the authority over-' those places to which the bill would be applicable. Mr. Ashton apprehended that one of the most important considerations was whether there would be any pecuniary liability involved in carrying the Act out. The Board at present could not attend to all matters they were required to look after for. want of funds. They would require to be fully enlightened on the subject before they took so grave a responsibility upon themselves. It did appear to him as if it would involve pecuniary liability, and if so they were not prepared to incur that expense. The Chaiemajt said he believed it would entail no additional pecuniary liability whatever. Mr. Geoboe said the Board had very small power delegated to them by the Superintendent; and they had no funds at command. They had small power to do anything until a Municipal Corporation was established. The bill was one more for the police to interfere with than the City Board, who had nothing to do with the police farther than to contribute to their support in the revenue. - He thought Mr. Commissioner Naughton and Mr. Beckham were the persons to carry out the bill. It might be of some advantage to the city, but it was impossible for the City Board to carry it out. Mr. Macbeady said' he had had a conversation with the Commissioner of Police on the subject. The acceptance ' of the bill would involve no additional responsibility. It would give the Board a little more power over the licenses for «the carts, cabs, <fec, and to fix the fares that they should charge. He had spoken to Mr. Hardington about the rates that should be charged. Of course that would be a matter of arrangement. Mr. Commissioner Naughton, who was a party to the preparing of the bill, could give the Board some information regarding it. He (Mr. M.) had been of opinion that they could levy a licensing fee on theatres, singing and dancing saloons, <fcc. The law ought to be able to take hold on the keepers of disorderly" houses. (Read the 15th clause of the Act.) He did not think they would be able to impose a licensing fee. Perhaps their lawyer cculd put them right in the matter — whether the "local authority" mentioned would have the right to make them pay a licensing fee. They would have to make byelaws with regard to the carts, &c. So far as regarded the carrying of the Act out by the Board, it was almost a matter of form. Some local authority must deal with it, and he would not like any other Board to take charge of, it. There would be no additional liability to the Boardit would be an expense under the Police Act. Mr. Ashton : What would be done with the

fines ? Mr. Macbeady said the fines were paid into the Police Court, and went to the General Government. The question was whether they would take the bill over or not. The Municipal PoKce Act of 1862 was repealed, and the Commissioner of Police was desirous to have the matter determined, and the Act put in force as soon as possible. The Chaibman said the acceptance of the bill would not cause any additional responsibility, but it only gave the Board more power than they hitherto possessed. Mr. Macbeady said there were provisions in the Act which were provided for in the City Board Act, and there were other matters mentioned in the bill with which the Board would have nothing to do. The Chairman said the question was not one of detail, but of principle— whether the City Board would accept the responsibility of the Act. If they did not do so, another local body would be appointed. Mr. Ashton said there was no use in going into detail, as they had no power to alter the provisions of the Act. Mr. Wbiglby said the bill did % not give the Board any authority over the police, who were under the authority of the Superintendent. Mr. Macbeady said the local authority would have charge of the police. The Chaibman said that was a mistake. Mr. Macbeady referred to the 18th clause, relating to the apprehension of offenders. The Chaibman said it would be awkward if another local body were appointed. He thought ' the Board were willing to accept the Act as far as the city boundaries extended, as defined by the City Board A ct. _ _ Z,Mr. Ashton would accept the bill^fjoHSie whole of the boundaries menti<ia&d in the Gazette. Mr. Wbigiey movedr^That the City Board agree to undertaitf'the responsibility of carrying outthj& Municipal Police Act, 1866, according j^fnofcification published in the provincial Gazette, March 22nd, 1866." Mr. Ashton seconded the motion. Mr. Macbeady said it would be better to adjourn until Monday, at three o'clock, when they could consulttheir lawyer and the Commissioner of Police on the subject. They should ascertain the true facts of the case, and not go into the matter blind-folded. If their law adri»er would not come there to meettheirodMjMtfM

Bos*l required to be explained. He had every confidence in their solicitor, who was probably the best lawyer they could get, but at the same time the Board wanted iomething for their money. He moved, as an amendment, the adjournment of the meeting until Monday (today) at three o'clock. Mr. Gbohos seconded the amendment, which was carried. The meeting then separated.