AUTHORITY FOR CITY AND BOROUGH COUNCILS TO LEVY HIGHER RATES

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 November 1950, Page 6

AUTHORITY FOR CITY AND BOROUGH COUNCILS TO LEVY HIGHER RATES

PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Last Night (PA).—Authortiy for city and borough councils to increase the maximum general rate from 2s 6d in the £ to 3s on the annual value, and from 2d to 2id in the £ where the rating is on the capital value, is contained in the Municipal Corporation Amendiment Bill, which made its appearance I in the House of Representatives today. All the provisions in the measure give effect to remits carried at the annual conference of the Municipal Association. Another important clause empowers city and borough councils to increase the limit of loans for housing pur- : poses from £1515 to £2020. Where transport is required to carry children to school, councils operating these services are empowered to go beyond ' their own boundaries without the consent of the neighbouring authority. The same concession is to be allowed for the conveyance of private parties on special occasions. Councils are empowered to expend moneys in the preparation and dissemination of information for the public concerning their activities or having for its object the advancement or development ot the locality. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Bodkin) said that some authorities [were anxious to provide extensive information on the possibilities of developing industry in their areas. Others, such as Rotorua and Queenstown, were concerned with the tourist traffic.