POLITICAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18411, 1 November 1929, Page 9

POLITICAL NEWS.

POINTS FROM PARLIAMENT. (Special to the “Herald.”) WELLINGTON, Oct. 31. Prime Minister’s Health. It was officially announced to-day that the Prime Minister is now very much improved in health. He intends, however, to adhere to the advice of his doctors, and will not • eturn to the House this session. Sir Joseph had several callers today, including the Governor-General, the Chief Justice and the Leader cf the Opposition (Hon. J. G. Coates). A 13 £ Pounder. Ah outside in petitions was presented to the House to-day by the Minister of Health (Hon. A. J. Stallworthy) on behalf of 15,202 persons. The petition related to the Elsie Walker inquest, and was indicative of the great public interest, for people in every walk of life had sighed it. rht petition sought legislation this session empowering re-opehing of an inquest, where fresh evidence became available, and made particular -epresenations in regard to the Elsie Walker case. The document was about r .£ inches thick, and on the scales weighed 13£ poUnas.

Town Planning Schemes. Under the provision of the Town Planning Amendment Bill, introduced in the House to-day by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. P. D. de la Perrelle), and preparation of regional town planning schemes in the true sense is aimed at. The schemes suggested in the Bill are to be optional in their adoption, however, bv local authorities. There are various alterations to the present 'aw, and provision is made for setting up committees to control town planning artb Hies in various areas An explanatory amendment states that the term “regional planning scheme” employed in" t*e 1926 Act is not used in the true tec.h« nical sense, and as it is now intended to make provision for regional town planning schemes in the true sense, it has been nrvssary, to avoid confusion. to apply a new name to schemes referred to under the * reser.it law as regional town planning schemes. These are generally complementary to town planning schemes, and are designed for areas which, although not within the boundaries of a borough, have certain urban characterisatics. The name proposed is extra-urban planning schemes. One of the most important amendments is the extension of time within which local authorities must ha\e schemes finished. Originally it was intended that thev should be finished by Jannerv l*t, 1930. but the Bill proposes fixing the date by Order-in-Coun-cil, and if necessary extending the prescribed time. PreDaration of town planning schemes will be In the hands of regional planning committees which the Bill proposes should be set up. Expenditure must not exceed an amount produce bv a rate of one-fiftieth of a penny in tv»e round on the capital value of all rateable property in the region. The rowers gi-'en to Borough Councils in the wav of control, erection of buildings, and carrying out works, lien ding plarnine schemes are to be extended to county councils.