AUCKLAND CITY BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18773, 29 July 1924, Page 8

AUCKLAND CITY BILL.

SIR 3, GUNSON'S MISSION. EXPLANATION To> MEMBERS. MISCONCEPTIONS REMOVED. SERVING PUBLIC INTERESTS. [B 7 TELEC BJIPH. —SPECIAL P.EPOBTEU. ] ' WELLINGTON. Monday. Confidence that his mission to Wellington had removed any misapprehensions in the minds of members of Parliament as to the contents of the Auckland City and Museum Empowering Bill, was expressed by the Mayor, Sir James Gunson, this evening. James has been very thorough during the few dayo spent in Wellington. He has interviewed the Prime Minister and other Ministers concerned in the bill's proposals, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. WlUord, the members of the Labour Party and heads of departments. The result is, he states, that the policy of the council and the purposes of the bill are now fully understood. ' 1

The Empowering Bill, Sir James explains, is a measure of great importance to Auckland if the city is to be prepared for the expansion of which there is such rich promise. The bill embodies powers, which if passed into law, will greatly facilitate tho council's plans. These include such important works aa street widening and extension and other works of a cognate character. In this connection the existing powers are inadequate and legislative sanction is therefore sought to widen them. Serious misconceptions, says Sir James, arose in regard to the terms and intentions of the bill. He was oonfident that Auckland members were now much more favourably disposed toward the measure. Chief Causo of Hostility,

The chief error and cause of much of the hostility originally shown the bill, says Sir James, seems to have been the idea that Clause 9 would validate the, proposed Quay Street railway. It had now been made clear that the clause had no relation to the street railway. Authority for the latter had been granted under the Tramways Act by license for five years. " Not even indirectly had the clause any reference to the street railway. Quay Street at the' Ferry Buildings was already 100 ft, wide and could without ar.y widening carry both railway and tram lines. Notwithstanding this it was still desirable to widen the street, and if the bill were passed the work, which involved the demolition of the Gladstone Buildings, would be carried out. If notj the street would remain at 100 ft., but the railway and tramway would be laid an already agreed upon under other authorities than those conferred by the present bill. Absurd Interpretations. Clause 10 was another that had been , greatly misunderstood. Absurd interpretations had been placed upon it. It wasitnerely designed to facilitate the handling of certain city assets no longer required for their express purpose. The proceeds of their sale would be appropriated to other lawful purposes within the authority of the Municipal Corporations" Act. The clause did not refer directly or indirectly to reserves or domain lands as erroneously suggested. •• The other important section, Clause 8. says Sir James, seems to be generally approved as reasonable in view of the many important street improvements proposed, including extensions and opening of new thoroughfares and the widening of others. _ * "It must always be remembered." concluded Sir James, " that the council ia quite prepared to accept reasonable amendments making for the m<?re efficient working of the bill. It is also ready to give any information making for better -understanding. Speaking generally, the bill is designed to uphold and strengthen local government and all local authorities should welcome rather than, depredate *the council's efforts in this direction. The bill will come before the local bills committee on August 15. Tho Hon. O. J. Parr, who is in charge of the bill, other witnesses and myself, will be in attendance. The whole of the city's proposals and their justification will then be fully explained. Auckland Members' Attitude. " I believe that the policy of the ooun* cil and the purposes of tho bill' are already fully understood, but the council has no wish to be arbitrary. It has only the public interest at heart.'' Inquiries among Auckland members indicate that Sir James Gunson's confidence is apparently well founded. There is probably one exception. Southern as well as Auckland Labour members were most interested in the clear exposition of Auckland's street problems, and the manner in which it is proposed to solve some of the principal onesi. Sir Jamrss' exposition was greatly helped bv'an excellent series of maps in detail and a general plan embracing the whole. ~