POWERS OF BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 200, 7 August 1928, Page 8

POWERS OF BOROUGH COUNCILS.

(To The Editor.) Sir, —On my return to Napier this week-end my attention has been drawn to a sub-leader which appeared in your paper on Thursday last, referring to certain remarks made by me when speaking on “The Municipal Corporation Amendment Bill” on Tuesday last. Apparently the report received by you has given rise to some misconception of what was said by myself or as to what was intended by the remarks which I made. I am accordingly writing to you on the matter. My remarks were confined to pointing out to the Minister in charge of the Bill that under Section 330 of “The Municipal Corporations Act. of 1920,” which deals exclusively with

the powers of Borough Councils to Surchase land and erect workers’ wellings, no power was given to reclaim land purchased by a Council for this purpose. I pointed out that so far as the Napier Borough was concerned, unless power to reclaim was also given, the section would be practically inoperative. No doubt other Boroughs would find it useful to have a similar power to reclaim land. My suggestion was that this particular clause should be so amended as to enable a Council not only to purchase land for the purpose of workers’ dwellings, but should also give a Council power to reclaim land when so purchased—Yours etc. JOHN MASON. Napier, 6/8/28.