MUNICIPAL LAW.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11738, 16 September 1902, Page 4

MUNICIPAL LAW.

The Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill, introduced by Governor's Message on Friday, afternoon, is the. out-

come of the deliberations of the recent Municipal Conference. It is pronosed that the District Electors' Roll shall be made up on or before sth March of every year in which a general election of the Council is held, instead of every year, as at present. Section 89 of the' principal Act is amended so as to provide that the Government subsidy shall be payable on the general rates levied for each year ending 31st March, and actually collected by June of the following year, in lieu of the same year as at present. It is also provided that the subsidy shall not be payable cv. any amount exceeding tbree-farthings in tho pound on the capital value where the rate is levied on the capital or unimproved value, or of one shilling in the pound where tho rate is levied on the annual value "Also, the subsidy shall not be payable on rates expended in contributing to the funrls of any other local authority. Authority is given to levy and recover sanitary rate? Part 13 of the main Act dealing with special loans is repealed, except 'n regard to proceedings commenced prior to the pass ing of the Act, which may be continued and completed. It is provided th.it whero 15 per cent of the ratepayers of adjoining boroughs petition the respective Councils for amalgamation, a poll shall be taken within sixty days, and if decided affirmatively the 'Governor may be petitioned to declare a united borough. In the event of a borough being split into wards, or the ward system abolished, the entire Council shall cease tfv exist, and a fresh election is necessitated, but where alterations of the existing ward boundaries occur, where the number of'members is altered or an adjoining district is incorporated, a fresh election is necessary in the wards affected. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of Mayor within two months of the ensuing election the person elected will hold office till the next succeeding annual election. Power is given to the Council to pull down a dangerous wall, whether forming part of a building or not, and new buildings in boroughs are required to have at the side or rear an open space of not lesa than 500 superficial feet^ and for the

purposes of this section "dwelling house" includes lodginghouse or hotel. The special regulations in the principal Act as to the dimensions of rooms are limited to lodginghouses, hotels, and houses occupied by more than one family. Places of public worship are to be licensed, but no license fee shall ba charged for buildings used exclusively for such purpose. Power is given to Councils to appoint a qualified medical practitioner as medical officer, and to "fix his remuneration and duties.