BORROWING WITHOUT POLL

Evening Star, Issue 19044, 12 September 1925, Page 4

BORROWING WITHOUT POLL

DUNEDIN DRAINAGE BOARD'S £250,000 SECOND HEADING OF BILL MANY OBJECTORS IX LEGISLA-. TIVE COUNCIL. [From Our Paruiamentarv lleroetee.] WELLINGTON, September U. The principle -that there should he no departure from the law which requires local bodies to secure the consent of the ratepayers before loan moneys may be raised was upheld by scveriil speakers in the Legislative Council to-day. The discussion arose over the amendment made by the .Local Bills Committee, nullifying the effect of the Dunedin Drainage and Sewerage Amendment Bill, which seeks authority for the Drainage Board to raise £250,000 without appealing to the .ratepayers. The Hon. John MacGregor, in moving the second reading of the Bill, urged that in this case there was no necessity to take a poll, and that the method provided in the Bill w.as simpler, more suitable, and less expensive. One of the reasons why he submitted the Council should support the measure was public interest and the need for the drainage work proposed. The committee’s objections were explained by the chairman (the Hon. Mr Moore), who said that it was felt that it was right and proper for the ratepayers to nave some voice in the matter. There was more at stake, he said, than saving a few pounds. “There is a big principle involved,” he said, “ as to’ whether, hit by bit. wo are going to reduce the power of the ratepayers to say whether a loan shall be raised or not. I would he one of the last to raise any objection to a local Bill being passed when the approval of the people concerned has been obtained, hut in a case like this I think there should bo the usual safeguard.” The Leader of the Council (Sir Francis Bell) referred to the difficulty of taking a poll over an area controlled by several local bodies, which involved complicated machinery. In the present case all the local _ bodies wore agreed as to the necessity for the work, and therefore he did not regard the Bill as a departure from the principle. Jt was pointed out by the Hon. Mark Cohen that the Bill merely proposed an extension of powers already given to the board. He agreed that, as a rule, it was necessary to secure the ratepayers’ authority, hut in this case ho submitted that that process had boon carried out alveady. _ The Hou. I'lr Rood objected to the Bill as establishing a had precedent. “ Why should the hoard have a special privilege over other local bodies in New Zealand,” asked the Hon. J. B. Gow, who urged the council to pause before granting unrestricted power to any local body to borrow ■without the consent of the ratepayers. If any extension of the privilege was made'it should ho made universally. After further discussion the second reading was declared carried on the voices, hut the number of “Noes” indicator!'That the committee's amendment was largely supported.