CITY LEASES

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9173, 13 October 1915, Page 11

CITY LEASES

ARBITRATION DIFFICULTY QUESTION TO BE CONSIDERED BY GOVERNMENT. During the discussion in the House of Representatives ou the proposal to postpone the question of the .valuation of city leases, the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell) explained that the whole subject of the valuation of reserves under the control of local authorities would be considered oy tho Government during tho recess Under the amendment to tbe Municipal Corporations Act >as agreed to leases would remain as they were, but tho new rent would be paid as from the Ox renewal on the new scale fixed in 191 1. Mr R. A. Wright expressed the view that when matters wont to arbitration a Judge of the Supreme Court should act as chief adjudicator. The Attorney-General (tho Hon. A- L. Herdman) remarked that tha whole question of the fixing of the rentals of city leases required careful consideration and could not bo dealt with ip the closing hours of the session. The position of lessees in different centres varied and they had as much, right to expect justice from the House as the poorest.man in tho land. The City Council in fixing Die standard of rentals should <not aim at extracting the last farthing from the pockets of business people. Mr Russell repudiated with eoorn a suggestion by Mr A. H. Hindmarsh that there was any chance of the matter being neglected by the Government. 'He defied the member for Wellington South to put his finger on any breach of faith bl either the Massey or- Ward Governments in the past, ... An hon. member: "What about withdrawing the second ballot and putting something in its place.” (Laughter.) Mr Russel continued that the _ legislation did not refer only to the City of Wellington, but the whole country, and, consequently, the number of cases which would come before the Judges of the Supreme Court might be so great that they- would not have time to deal with them. ■ The postponement as provided by his amendment was at tho request of the Mayor of Wellington, as representing tho - Corporation; The Minister assured the House that the question would ba thoroughly gone into during the recess. Possibly a general scheme, of (local government, might be brought down whereby it was possible to secure a system that would 'be acceptable to the country. , Mr Russell again asked Mr Hindmarsh what justification he had for asserting that the Government might break faith with the public. ■ Mr Hindmarsh: "I will bo able to answer that question ■ this day twelve months.” (Laughter.) .