A MUNICIPAL BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12070, 13 September 1902, Page 5

A MUNICIPAL BILL.

.» SOME IMPORTANT PROVISIONS. [by telegraph.—speciai; COIUtESPONDESTT.] Wei/Llxgtoh, ; Fridaj. A Eiu, entitled as Act to extend the municipal franchise was introduced to the House to-day by Governor's message. There is, however, nothing about an extension of the. franchise in it. No doubt the Government had decided to make the municipal franchise the same as the Parliamentary franchise, but apparently they have thought better of it, and have cut out the clause dealing with the subject. The new Bill contains a number of proposals recommended by the recent municipal conference. It provides that it shall not be. necessary for the town clerk to make out annually a district electors' list or roll, but such roll shall he made out- on or before March 5 in every year in which a general election of the council is to be held. Section 13 of the Act of 1900 is amended so as to provide that a district elector shall bs any person whose name appears in the "occupier" column on the valuation roll, the words " valuation roll"' being substituted tor " rate book.'' Minutes of meetings of a.council or committee are to be prinra-facie evidence of such proceedings. There is a clause re Government subsidies, providing that Government subsidies shall not, be payable on any amount exceeding the sum, which would be annually collected from a rate of 3d in the £ on the capital value, or Is in the £ on the annual value, provided also that the subsidy shall not be payable on any part of such general rates expended in contributing to the funds of any other local authority. There is a. clause dealing with the "' greater lit*, question, in re petitions for the. constitution of a,.united borough. It in livid,".-- that before any such petition can hi- presented to the Governor there must be a separate poll of the ratepayers in each. borough on the question. This poll shall be taken 60 days after a petition in. its favour, signed by not less than 15 per cent. of the ratepayers, has been presented to the councils of the boroughs affected. Clauses 13 and 14 provide that where the wards dividing a. borough are abolished the council shall rix the number 'of councillors for the undivided borough, and a fresh election of the whole council shall lake place. When a mayor is elected within two months of the time, for the annual election lie shrill hold office until the following year. The most important provision in the Bill is ill clause 20. This repeals the long section in. the present Act, providing for open spaces in towns, and enacts other things. It provides that every new dwelling-house in. a borough shall have an open space of 300 superficial feci at its side or rear. Any addition put to a house must not diminish this air space. For the purpose of this clause "dwelling-house" shall include a lodging-house or hotel. Places of public worship are to be licensed, though no license fee is to be charged. There is a clause regarding the width of streets which needs explanation. Section 236 of the Act of 1900, as originally brought down in, the. Legislative Council, provided that where it was difficult and inexpedient to lay out streets of 66ft the Governor-in-Council could permit streets of less width to be laid out. The House disagreed with the amendments made by the Council, and in a conference between the two Chambers the clause was mutilated so that it applied to the construction, instead of the laying off of streets. The amendment now proposed brings the proposal back to its original form, viz.. to lay off streets of less width than 66ft in exceptional cases.