PUBLIC BODIES' LEASES BILL

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 October 1908, Page 4

PUBLIC BODIES' LEASES BILL

PASSES THE COUNCIL. fP£!l PUES3 ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, This Day. In the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, The Attorney-General, in moving the third reading of the Public Bodies’ Leases Bill, said that there was no doubt that a complete revision of the licensing powers of tire local bodies was necessary. It was a difficult problem to make a compendium of the leasing powers m one statute, but because the task was difficult that was no reason why it should not be attempted. If a license was available to officers chielly concerned during the recess, it would be one of the tasks to which he would invite them to beset themselves. Hon. Mr Anstey said that it was something more than a mere draughtsman s bill. They had to give due consideration to the several interests concerned—the interests of public bodies, tenants, and the general public, which was not altogether the case in the hill. Hon. Mr Samuel declared that the bill was most unsatisfactory and bristling with ambiguities. He urged all local bodies to abstain from exercising the provisions of the Act, as it was less satisfactory from ail points of view than that now in force. The greatest necessity of leasing law was to try to supply secuvitv of tenure, as any lease which failed properly to protect the tenant could not be regarded as patisfaclory. Hon. Mr .Tones said that the bill was had in principle, and would make leaseholds unpopular. The Attorney-General, in defending the bill, said that was an improvement on the existing Act. The third reading was agreed to on the voices and the bill passed.