THE COUNTIES BILL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume LIX, Issue 6785, 16 October 1920, Page 3

THE COUNTIES BILL.

o , ITS. PROVISIONS OUTLINED.

_ Wellington, October 14. The Counties Bill has been returned to tho House from a Special Committee, with a number of amendments. This Bill is a consolidation of the law relating to counties, and, as originally presented to the House, it made merely a few minor alterations, although some clauses had been re-drafted wholly or in part. Thc'committec which took evidence has made spmo amendments of importance. A person is not to be entitled to sign ji petition if his rates have been unpaid for two years—the period originally stated in the bill was six months. The number of ridings in any new county formed other than by the union of counties is not to exceed 12. The number of electors for each riding is to be fixed as nearly as may be in proportion to the rateable value, and the number of electors of each riding. A riding is not to comprise any area which is part only of an undivided road district, or part only of a subdivision of a divided road district. A ratepayor is defined* as a person whoso name appears for the time being in tho occupied column of the rate book. Various amendments have been made regarding the elections. The roll is to be prepared on or before January 22 in each year in which a general election of councillors is to be held. Tho roll is to bo open for public inspect ion from January 27 until February 15. Objections may be- lodged up to February 22, and tho roll will come into force on the first Wednesday in April. The disqualification clause has been amended to cover some difficulties that Imve arisen in recent years. A person who is concerned or interested in a contract made by the council is to be disqualified from membership if the payment made, or to be made by the council in respect to any such contract exceeds £5 in the case of a single con, tract, or £lO altogether in any financial year in the case of two or more contracts, except in special cases to be approved by the Audit Office. On the application of the Council in any such special case the Audit Office may authorise the payment ,-uid receipt :.f such amount as it thinks lit, not exceeding i» the aggregate £oo in any financial year, in respect of any contracts, or of two or inure contracts." The geuoral election of a county council is to beheld biennially' on the seconTl Wednesday in May, the first general election under the Act to take place on' the second 'Wednesday in May, 1923. The ■limitation of the sanitary rate to one half-penny in the pound on the capital value has been struck out. A new clause authorises the council to levy a special rate of such amount as will cover the estimated expenditure. The power of a county council to borrow on overdraft is extended to include temporary loans from any corporation or persons, as well as an overdraft from a bank. Increased powers are given to councils in regard to drainage works. A council may lie granted by Order-in-Council the powers of a. borough council for the supply of water for domestic or industrial purposes. Public halls and mortuaries are added to the list of institutions that a county council may establish ami maintain. A new clause gives the Governor-General power, on petition, to include neighbouring islands within the counties. Where the capital value of all rateable property in the road districts in any county i,s less than two-fifths of the capital value of all rateable property in that county, the council may, by special order, declare the road boards dissolved, such road districts to be merged in the county council, and empowered, with (he consent of the Minister of Agriculture, to establish cattle dips. They may also purchase and sell rabbi I-proof wire netting, and may purchase and hire to road boards road-making plant of any description.

The Bill was considered in Cninmitti'C of the House on Thursday night when it was reported with amendments, read a third time and passed.