MUNICIPAL LAW

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17956, 7 December 1932, Page 6

MUNICIPAL LAW

AMENDMENT DROPPED STRONG OPPOSITION EVIDENT (Parliamentary Kepurter.j WELLINGTON, this day. The Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill is being dropped by the Go\ eminent as a result of long discussions on the preliminary stages showing that there is a strong objection to some of tho new proposals which accompany the several hundred eon sol ida ting clauses. Chief objection has been taken to tho extension of time between municipal ejections to three years, and to the procedure for the enforcement of tin' amalgamation of adjoining boroughs, the contention of opponents Doing that local authorities have not been fully advised on these subjects. Mr. K. A. Wright, from the Government benches, brought a long discus sion to a head in committee by moving to amend the short title so that the bill would not operate till 1985. This, he explained, would give ample time for local bodies to realise what it contained.

The Labor Opposition readily approved this move, Mr. H. E. Holland inviting the Prime Minister to announce whether this would be taken as a motion of no-confidence.

Tho Bt. Hon. G. W. Forbes replied that Mr. Holland had been long enough in the House to know that a bill concerning local government did not closely concern the general' Government, and was not a matter of policy. An adverse vote could not be taken as an expression of no confidence. “Lot us voto then,” exclaimed a front bench Oppositionists. The discussion had not proceeded far when tho Hon, A. Hamilton, Min-ister-in-charge, agreed to report progress if the committee would adopt the short title. Ho did not wish to force the bill through, and recognised, he said, the reasonableness of some of the objections. He wished to meet tho wishes of municipal bodies and the House. Mr. Wright withdrew his amendment, and the short title was adopted anil progress reported, the House soon a Howards adjourning.