MUNICIPAL LAW.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14337, 1 November 1910, Page 5

MUNICIPAL LAW.

! THE AMENDING BILL. i ! THE DISQUALIFYING CLAUSE. ! Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. "U. The Municipal Corporations Aefc Amendment Pill was taken iu commit- j lee this evening. Mr Huddo moved to amend clause G, which, amends clause 59 of llm ! principal Act by adding the words I I '• otherwise than as a member of sn ' incorporated company iu which there ! arc more, than twenty members, and of which ho is neither a director or general manager." The clause in the principal Act provides that no member of the Council can vote on or discuss any matter in which he has difecllv or indireetlv any pecuniary inter- '• est. I Mr WHford pointed out that the ! clause would have the effect of preventing tho directors of a newspaper compaliv having an account with a council "from standing for election as councillor or mayor. Mr Allen considered the amendment too drastic. To prevent directors of ! companies from being councillors or j mayors would exclude some of the most capable men from municipal officers, and this was ridiculous. Mr Buddo said the clause applied to contracts already undertaken, but not to ;ho=e entered into in future. I Mr Wilford suggested that the Minis- ' ter should add to the end of clause the j follow-'ng words: ' : That the insertion ■ of an advertisement in a newspaper I shall not be deemed a contract for | work done within the meaning of this I section." I Mr Buddo said if the clause were ! passed he would add a proviso to the 1 B : li exempting newspaper advertisements from the scope of the claiise. i The Minister's amendment was car- '■ ried bv 41 to 1.9. | An amendment by Mr "Wilford. to i strike out a proviso that the amount borrowed and owed bv a Council on any of its accounts shall not exceed the estimated revenue of that account for the current year ending 31st March, was carried bv 31 to 25. At clause. Ifi. Mr "Wilford moved an amendment that no contract made bv a council shail be invalid bv reason, only that it is not, made in the manner provided under section 172 of the r.rinoip.il Act. if such contract has | been made in pursuance of or to jrivc i effect to a resolution of the fniinoil. The object of the amendment, Mr "Wilford explained. was to prevent contracts being declared invalid because the seal of the council was not affixed. The amendment was agreed to on the voices. (Left sitting.) jL