Counties Act Amendment Bill.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1700, 29 June 1885, Page 2

Counties Act Amendment Bill.

In the House last Friday the Premier in moving the second reading of this Bill said he thought it would be better if they had two local bodies— Hoad Boards and Boroughs. In any amendment, however, they must proceed very cautiously. Tins Bill made few alterations, but it altered a few principles. For instance, it localised finance, and piovided that the ridim'S and Road Boards should bo made co temiinons. It was proposed that there should bo no new counties, except by order of the tiovenioi-iu-Comicil, in order to preclude counties being organised by local agitation. The Bill did not disturb either Road Boards or counties, and left to the people perfect freedom as to whether they had Road Boaids or Counties- H B had not been that the Government were bringing in so many important Bills, he would haye brought down a Consolidation Act which he had deferred. The Bill provide! ihat the chairman was to be elected by the ratepayers, not by the Council. That, he considered, would tend to raise the status of the councils and the chairmen. Vat ions provisions were new to local governing bodies, such as that giving permission for tho erection of schools out of county funds. Tho power given for councils to become harbor boards v/ould probably be taken advantage of in many ports, and the provision had been inserted in accordance with a request received by the Government. Tho debate in this Bill will probably bo resumed to-raot't’ow - .