WIDER POWERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 306, 24 November 1932, Page 6

WIDER POWERS

for municipal authorities. VARIED CLAUSES OF NEW BILL. f ' fßv Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) ° -Wellington, Nov. au. Triennial in place of bienn J municipal elections are provided I r in the amending clauses of the -Mumcipal Corporations Bill—a measure ~f 394 sections the majority ot which a.a of a consolidating nature—which v. introduced into tho House ot Representatives to-night. nf >xt general election ot counti . lors is to take place on the first Wednesday in May, 1933, and the next election will be held on the same dayin 1935. Thereafter the election ls to be held on the first 'Wednesday ni Mav in every third year Provision also is made for the filling of vacancies by giving councils power to fill such vacancies as occur within twelve months of the preceding general election. . . . . Names of non-voting • would be omitted from the rolls alter Cl Power' would be given councils to refund portion of the sanitation charges where the service was discoutiZThe compensation payable to an owner of property where the building line has been set back is limited to tbs difference in the value of the land or the building before the building line was set back and the value of the remainder after such action has been Power is given to councils to make advances to owners of premises to enable them to connect their premises with the drainage system. Ihe trough's repayments may be made in one amount or by instalments oyer a number of years, and the maximum rate of interest to be charged is fixed a.t 6 per cent, per annum, these charges stand in the same category as rates for the purposes of collection. Advances may be made by councils to occupiers of premises for the installation of gas or electricity, and similar provisions are made for repayment as in tho ease of drainage. The provisions in respect to advances to workers by municipalities are extended. Local bodies may now advance money for the purchase of dwellings which have already been erected. After 10 per cent, of tho principal owing by the worker has been repaid a council worker may enter into a new agreement lor repayment of the balance. Provision is made for the capitalisation of arrears of interest, which are to be treated as outstanding principal. F’lood protective works may be erected by councils outside borough boundaries if the property of the corporation is likely to be endangered. In cases in which the amalgamation of adjoining boroughs is proposed the Governor-General may, in cases where there is a difference of opinion, appoint a commission consisting of a. Magistrate, the Commissioner of Crown Lands for district and the district valuer to enquire whether the proposed united borough should be constituted. In the event of the report being favourable, the GovernorGeneral may issue a proclamation uniting these several boroughs. Power also is given to make by-laws regulating, controlling or prohibiting the erection of hoardings or other structures for the display of advertisements. Municipalities may also prescribe the scales of annual fees for hoardings and may require disused hoardings to be removed. Regulations may also be made con. trolling the storage of goods of an inflammable nature.

MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION. REGULATION OF PROCEDURE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. Nov. 23. The Municipal Association Bill, introduced in the House of Representatives to night, establishes/the Municipal Association as a body corporate, provides the subscriptions payable by various local authorities for membership, and defines the powers and duties of the association and generally regulates its procedure. The Municipal Association Bill and the Municipal Corporations Bill were introduced by Governor-General’s message and read the first time. Mr P. Fraser suggested that the latter Bill should be referred to the Local Bills Committee. Hon. A. Hamilton said he did not think this course necessary. The House would be quite able to deal with the measure.