MUNICIPAL REFORM.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 6061, 21 September 1894, Page 4

MUNICIPAL REFORM.

The Municipal Corporations Bill, whiob will be circulated shortly and mußfc prove of great interest to the community, oootisle of 441 clauses and 9 schedule*. The principal alterations made m the measure since last year hare reference, says the LytteUm Timet, to the introduction of universal suffrage m municipal elections. (The Bill provides thtt " every person of the full age of 21 yean" ehall be entitled to vote at every eleotion occurring m a borough or ia any ward m which be is enrolled; but shall have only one vote irrespective of the value of bis property. If a burgess bas property m more than onp ward of a borough, he must select the particular ward for whiob. he desires to be enrolled, and if he fails to do ta the Oouasil ebtdl determine «poD which roll bis name shall be pieced. 'Petitions for tne proclamation of new boroughs are to be signed by 500 ratepayers, instead of by 200 resident householders, A new sub/ section provides that three-fifths of the ratepayers of any portion of a borough rosy petition for «e»«*ais«. A clause is added -enabling any Ooanuil to apply borrowed meoeyc m the purchase of a State farm m Belief of the congested population of a borough. By a subsection to Clause 277 Borough Counoils ere empowered to itpfca over existing private streets Iwslban forty fret wide. .Provision it made fo? special licensing <of Ohineie hawkers, and for by-laws to wfti' Jate dsiriss and milk purrepri.