LOCAL BODY CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 93, 17 October 1934, Page 7

LOCAL BODY CONTROL

TWO AMENDING BILLS.

For the purpose of removing an anomaly which has arisen in tho rating methods adopted, amendments to the Counties Act and the River Boards Act will be introduced in the House of Representatives today. The object of the legislation is to give to river boards and county councils powers similar to those enjoyed by land drainage boards, and which it has always been believed were possessed by county councils and river boards. Recently, the Supreme Court, iv an action iv which the Kaipara ltiycr Board was involved, gave a decision which will prevent river boards and counties from obtaining sufficient roYCnue from their districts with which to meet their commitments. River boards and counties are required to classify their lands for rating purposes, and there is also a statutory limit in the amount of general rates which may be levied. The Court held that this limitation applied to all classes notwithstanding the fact that differential rates had to bo levied. Tho machinery provided in the Bill is intended to override this decision. The River Boards Bill will also bring river board elections into lino with county elections, by transferring the date on which they, are to be held from the second Tuesday in January to the second Wednesday in May.