CITY MARKETS BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16020, 11 September 1915, Page 5

CITY MARKETS BILL.

PASSED BY THE HOUSE.

SOME MINOR ALTERATIONS.

c [BT TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPOXDENT ] Wellington", Friday. The Auckland City Markets and Empowering Bill was brought before the House of Representatives by the Prim© Minister, this afternoon, as a matter of urgency and passed without material alteration. The fish market clauses, giving the City Council hrger powers in connection with the leases of the new city markets contemplated in Lower Hobson Street, and the provision reining to the old market site were all passed without discussion. Strong opposition was shown to that section of the Bill which proposed to give the council power to exclude the public from parks or reserves which might be let or set apart for special purposes. Mr. C. J. Parr, who was in charge of the Bill, said that probably the power sought was given to some extent under existing statute law. He did not press the clause, which was withdrawn. Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) raised a. question about the powers being given the council to lease Cornwallis Park.

Mr. Parr explained that the park comprised 1800 acres of waste gum lands, situated 20 miles from the city, and the council had decided to utilise "it by leasing to citizens who might wish to erect summer cottages there. ' _ Mr. H. G. Ell (Christchurch South) objected to the council having power to lease the foreshore and beach.

Mr. Parr's suggested amendment that the foreshore and beach be excepted from the operation of the Act was accepted, and the clause passed. The last clause, which made the Bill a matter of urgency, passed without discussion. It removed any doubt as to the council's power to pledge its general rates as security for loans. Mr. Parr explained that a sum of £150,000, a loan arranged by the Auckland City Council for general" purposes at 4i per cent., was actually in Wellington, at the present moment, but could not be handed over to the council until the Bill went through.