"WASHING-UP" BILL

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 107, 1 November 1924, Page 8

"WASHING-UP" BILL

LOCAt LEGISLATION

HARBOUR BOARD PROP'OS&L' HELD

Several.-new proposals affecting Wellington and district are contained in supplementary, clauses to' the "Washingup" Bill, wiiich wero introduced and considered iv the House of Representatiyes this morning". '••" ." ; : ; . The Government Railways AmendmentfAct. (No. 2) o! 1910 provides, that where the value of uuus'ed lands which are used for stores/etc., exceeds an annuar rental, of £20, the letting shall be by public tender or by pubM auction. This is now modified in respect to the railway; reserve in Wakefield • street, which is exempted from the provision. Another new "clause empowers the Lower Hutt Borough Council to expend money on designs for a scheme of townplanning for the Lower Hutt borough. The Hutt County Council is empowered to provide facilities for recreation purposes.

These clauses were passed without discussion during the committal stage. •

NO INFORMATION.

Exception was taken by local members "■to' a - clause* authorising the Wellington ; Harbour.Board, to Bell certain lands.

.- - Mr. A. .L. Monteith (Wellington East) . complained that local membere knew nothing about the matter, and asked the Minister of Lands to explain it. The Hon. A. D. M'Leod stated that the clause had been favourably reported upon by the Marine Department. It gave the Harbour Board power to dispose of some small areas of land at .Watts Peninsula (Miramar). Mr. Monteith said that as he understood the position certain lands had been purchased or exchanged with the consent of certain bodies, and they were not now wanted for the purposes for ■which they were acquired. They had jflad experience of the Harbour "Board before. Some years ago it took a site itom the City Council for the construction of a dock, which was never made, and the land was dealt with otherwise. The City ; Council would very much like to 'get. that land back.

Mr. R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs): "They have seized it."

- Mr. Monteith said that the least the. Harbour Board could have done was to have explained the matter .jx> local jmembers. / He asked that the clause bo held over until Ministers could gather some details as to exactly what the clause meant. . ■

The Minister of Marine (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) said that the matter was. submitted to the -Department jby the board's solicitor, and a thorough explanation was made. It was said that the board had power, under legislation passed last year, to sell surplus land that had been acquired,-but that it had no power to lease it. Power was now sought to lease the land. The Department could see no objection to the clause.

■ Mr. Monteith: repeated his request that the clause be held- over.

: The Minister of Lands, said that if there was objection to the clause he •would preferi to.see it deleted. : •;:

-Mr. Anderson :V.'lt'would be amistake to knook it- out." - ....

Mr. _Wright said he did not see any harm in the clause. The land could not he sold without the .consent of the Minister of Lands and the Wellington City Council. ' • '■ . ! On the motion of Mr. Monteith the .clause was held over for later, consideration. ■ ■:■•■' ■ ' \ ■ '-. •