LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1842, 12 November 1897, Page 6

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM.

THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION BILL. AN IMPORTANT MEASURE. [From the Star's Parliamentary Reporter. J WELLINGTON, November 3. The Municipal Corporation Bill, introduced to the House to-day by Message from the Governor, is a comprehensive measure, containing 468 clauses and fifteen schedules. The object of the Bill, as explained in the document prefixed to it, is to consolidate and amend the laws relating to boroughs and borough councils. The qualification for a borough is defined to be “an area of not more than nine square miles, having no points distant more than six miles from one another, and having a population not less than 1,000.” Existing boroughs that do not possess the necessary qualification are given an opportunity of obtaining it by an extension of boundaries or otherwise before the Act comes into operation, otherwise they will become subdivisions of the county in which they are situated. The franchise for the election of mayors and councillors is proposed to be enlarged so as to extend to “ any householder under any tenancy whatever who for twelve months has continuously been a householder in any part of the borough.” Elections are to be conducted in accordance generally with the provisions applicable to the election of members of the House of Representatives. There is to be a general election of councillors every two years. In cases of voting on special loans, a ratepayers’ roll is to be provided, giving one vote in respect to ratable property of the annual ratable value of £5 or of the capital value of £IOO, and two votes above that value. With a view to embodying, as far as possible, all legislation affecting boroughs in one Bill, the present measure includes the various provisions of the Public Works, Public Health, and other Acts affecting boroughs, thirtyone Acts being wholly or in part repealed by this Bill. As regards river and drainage districts, provision is made for boroughs becoming parts of special districts under the Local Government Bill, should that measure pass. This Bill further provides casting upon boroughs the up-keep of hospitals and the administration of charitable aid, with the help of Government subsidies; but these provisions are contingent upon the passing of the Local Authorities Bill or some other measure dealing with the whole question of charitable aid. In addition to the powers already possessed by borough councils, the Bill materially enlarges the power of councils in relation to drainage and sanitation, and gives power to them to provide workers’ dwellings and to prevent the overcrowding of land with houses and the overcrowding of houses with inhabitants. Very wide and comprehensive powers axe given as to the validity, testing, and enforcing of bylaws, and many matters of detail are left to be provided by regulations to be made by the Governor-in-Council. Section 98 provides that each borough shall receive annually out of the Consolidated Fund a grant equal to 4a per head of the popu-

lation. Special ratea may be levied for hospitals and charitable aid, payable by the occupiers of the premises, who shall deduct one-half of the same from the rent payable to the landlord. Section 204 authorises the borough council to get works done on the co-operative system, to any value or amount, without calling for public tenders, or to carry out any works itself without the intervention of a contractor. The council, in such cases, must keep a list showing the rates of wages and hours of labor to be paid and observed on such works; such lists to be based on the rates and hours prevailing generally in the particular trade or class of labor, By section 332 borough councils are empowered to provide electric lighting for streets and dwellings. The sections dealing with overcrowding are very long and comprehensive. Councils are empowered to purchase any portions of a borough which have become overcrowded or fallen into an insanitary condition ; to pull down or alter buildings ; to abolish private streets, and to lay out new streets or open spaces. Persons erecting houses have to leave an open space of not less than 150 square feet exclusively belonging to such house and having no erection whatever on it. The councils are to examine and classify all houses in boroughs, and to prepare a list showing the situation of each dwelling-house, the cubic space in each room, and the maximum number of persons who may sleep or live thereiu. This is to apply to hotels and lodging-houses as well as to private residences, and any breach of the Act in this respect is punishable by a fine of 40s for each day that the breach continues. The provisions with respect to charitable aid provide for the distribution of outdoor relief and also for the reception of applicants in homes for the aged and needy, in homes for theincurables, in homes fordeserted children, and other institutions. Important new provisions regarding workers’ dwellings empower the council to purchase land inside or outside of boroughs; to erect houses and furnish the same, either as separate dwellings or lodging-houses; and to rent the same to tenants or boarders. These dwellings or lodging-houses are to be managed and controlled by the corporation. The Bill is carefully prepared and well arranged, and, generally speaking, it revises, extends, and makes clearer the existing law as to municipal corporations.