THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS ACT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3247, 3 July 1872, Page 5

THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS ACT.

(The, Ptm*.)

The City Council have, very wisely we think, appointed a Committee to take the Municipal Corporations Act into consideration, with a view of suggesting any amendments that may bo required m time for the approaching session of the General Assembly. Amongst other arguments urged in favour of the amending of the Act, which from it« cogency and force will at once commend itself to the ratepayers, are the following : —After the rate list has been signed and scaled, the whole has to bo gone over again and re-copied for the formation of a burgess list, entailing some fortnight's work, for no use whatever, an amount of trouble which might be saved by the adoption of Cr. Hobb's suggestion made last year, that the receipt given for rates paid should be taken as evidence of the right of the ratepayers to vote at elections. We hope the committee will go carefully into the matter, and bring up such a report as will enable the Council to instruct Air Richardson, who has kindly proffered his services in the Assembly, what amendments are deemed necessary for the economical, and at the same time efficient, working of the machinery of the Act. Wo may note that recently there has been held in Melbourne a conference of municipal authorities relative to amendments in the Act, and that it was productive of a great deal of good. A3 the Municipal Corporations Act here applies to 'all the Provinces, and «"is moat of the towns in New Zoaland are interested in any amendments to be made, it would perhaps not he out of the way to hold some such a conference as that spoken of in a central portion of the Colony, when the Act and its bearings on particular cities and towns might Iks fully discussed, and any further tinkering with it avoided.