NEW LAWS WANTED

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12393, 12 March 1926, Page 7

NEW LAWS WANTED

BY LOCAL BODIES DEPUTATION TO MINISTER "YOU WILL BE SATISFIED” Some of the remits passed at the last municipal conference, lield in Dunedin, were brought before the Hon. R,. F. Bollard, Minister for Internal Affairs, yesterday, by members of the executive of the association. Mr F. J. Nathan, Mayor of Palmerston North, was spokesman. Mr Nathan said that one of the remits was a proposal, that to secure continuity of policy provision should be made for the election of Mayor and council every three years instead of two years. Mr Bollard: I can see no valid objection to that. Mr Nathan: These elections cost a lot of money, and that is a consideration in small electorates. LOAN MONEY 1 The temporary transfer of loan money was mentioned. Mr Nathan said the following resolutions had been passed; ‘‘That local bodies be empowered to transfer temporarily to the district fund accounts for the purpose of covering bnnk overdrafts, such sums so transferred to bo repaid into the loan account os at March 31st every year.” Mr Nathan said that while permission to do this had been refused Palmerston North, others had had no difficulty in obtaining it. “Give us the power, and we will take the chance with the banks,” he said. Mr Bollard: It might be allright with some local bodies, but others I would not give the power to. Some of .the local bodies get into serious trouble, and come to the Government to get them out of it, , i Mr Nathan: So you seriously suggest that those of us who run our business well should be penalised? . . . Shall we say it should apply to those local bodies of over 10,000 population? Some delegates said this would be agreeable, but one said it would be unfair to some of the small bodies. Mr Nathan: Well, we will leave it for the Minister’s serious consideration. A proposal was advanced that expenses of delegates to the municipal conference should be increased from £4O to £BO. ~ , _ The Minister said be would not offer any serious objection to that. LAND SUBDIVISION The conference, Mr Nathan said, had decided to ask for an amendment ofthe Act relating to .the sudivision of land so as to make it applj; to the “sale, lease or other disposition of any part of the holding.” “I think, he said, “It is reasonable we should have control.” Mr Bollard: Yes. , , That there be direct appointment by local bodies of the hospital board representatives was another request. In the opinion of the department the present position was absolutely wrong. As an instance, be mentioned the case •of Palmerston North; districts qutlyine from Palmerston North appointed , representatives, bnt the Palmerston North borough had not that right. Mr Bollard: You will have to see the Minister for Public Health about Mr Nathan said that one thing badly needed was an increase in the’ unauthorised expenditure. To-dav the “unauthorised” was insufficient, though it might have been alright when money was of a different value. “We will look into it,” said Mr Bollard, “and I think we can do something for you.” RESIDENTIAL AREAS “We want legislation this session to allow local bodies to define residential and business areas,” Mr Nathan said, and ho described 6uch a requirement as of the utmost importance. Many residential areas had been spoiled by the erection of shops; after a man had spent thousands oh a home, someone might build a butcher’s Bhop alongside it. He hoped they could get a zoning system this year, without waiting for the whole of the town-planning scheme. That would he something, and they badly wanted to have Something done. The matter was a grave one for many local bodies, particularly Palmerston North. Mr Bollard: We will give you every consideration, and I think we will give you something before tno session is over. Mr Nathan asked that the Minister should carefully consider the remits. They were not hurried decisions, bnt had been passed on more than ono occasion by experienced men. Mr Bollard: From what I can see they are very mild, and I think I shall be able to do something for you: in fact, I am pretty sure I can. When we have dealt with them I think you will fee fairly well satisfied.