LOCAL BILLS COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE). (Mr. C. A. WILKINSON, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1929 Session I, I-16

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1929. NEW ZE A LAND

LOCAL BILLS COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE). (Mr. C. A. WILKINSON, Chairman.)

Presented to the House of Representatives, and ordered to be printed.

ORDER OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Friday, the 2nd Day of August, 1929. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to whom all local Bills shall stand referred after the first reading ; the Committee to report whether the Standing Orders have been complied with, and to suggest such amendments as it may think proper, and to report when necessary on the merits of the Bills ; the Committee to have power to confer with any Committee appointed for a similar object by the Legislative Council; the Committee to have power to call for persons and papers ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Bitchener, Mr. Hawke, Mr. McCombs, Colonel McDonald, Mr. Macmillan, Mr. Munns, Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Wright, and the mover." —(Hon. Mr. de la Perrelle.)

INDEX.

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Subject-matter. | Page. Ij Subject-matter. j Page Auckland and Suburban Drainage Amendment Bill 2 ; Otago Harbour Board Empowering Bill .. 4 Auckland City Sinking Funds and Empowering 2 Otaki Borough Adjustment and Farm-lands Rating 5 Bill . Bill Auckland Electric-power Board Amendment Bill 3 1 Pallesen, J., and 418 others, Petition of .. 5 Bluff Harbour Reclamation and Leasing and 2 Petonc and Lower Hutt Gas-lighting Amendment 5 Empowering Bill I Bill Borough of Lyttelton Corporation Enabling Bill 3 Special report re preparation and introduction of 6 Christchurch City Reserves Amendment Bill .. 4 Bills by local bodies Christchurch Electricity and General Empowering 3 I Special report re services of Chairman .. .. 6 Bill j Special report re services of Clerk .. .. 6 Sumner Borough Land Vesting Bill .. .. 4 Final Report .. ■. .. • ■ 6 Timaru Borough Empowering Bill .. .. 3 Gisborne Harbour Board Amendment Bill .. 4 Timaru Harbour Board Loan Bill .. .. 2 Hawke's Bay County, Hastings Borough, and 2 Unaiki Matenga and 19 others, Petition of .. 5 Havelock North Town Board Empowering Bill Urban Farm-lands Rating Bill .. .. o Hawke's Bay Rivers Amendment Bill .. .. 5 Wanganui Harbour District and Empowering 3 Local Legislation Bill . . .. .. 6 Amendment Bill Lyttelton Harbour Board Reclamation Validation 2 Wellington City and Suburban Highways Con- 3 Bi]l struetion and Hutt Road Amendment Bill Wellington City and Suburban Water - supply 4 Manawatu-Oroua River District Amendment Bill 4 Amendment Bill Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Bill 4 New Plymouth Borough Council Empowering Bill ! 2 Wellington City Milk-supply Amendment Bill . . 5

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REP() R T 8 . Bluff Harbour Reclamation and Leasing and Empowering Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill; that the Standing Orders have been complied with ; and that it affects the rights and prerogatives of the Crown, inasmuch as it provides by clause 4 that the Bluff Harbour Board may reclaim certain areas from the sea. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with amendment as shown on the copy attached hereto. 27th August, 1929.

Lyttelton Harbour Board Reclamation Validation Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill ; that the Standing Orders have been complied with ; and that it affects the rights and prerogatives of the Crown, inasmuch as by clause 5 it proposes to validate the reclamation of certain lands from the sea and to vest the land so reclaimed in the Lyttelton Harbour Board. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with amendment as shown on the copy attached hereto. 27th August, 1929.

New Plymouth Borough Council Empowering Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill; that the Standing Orders have been complied with ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are not affected. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with amendment as shown on the copy attached hereto, and that the principles contained in clauses 7 and 9 be embodied in the next amendment to the Municipal Corporations Act. 27th August, 1929.

Hawse's Bay County, Hastings Borough, and Havelock North Town Board Empowering Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill; that the Standing Orders have been complied with, with the exception of that part of Standing Order 366 which was suspended by the House ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are not affected. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 27th August, 1929.

Auckland and Suburban Drainage Amendment Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill ; that the Standing Orders have been complied with ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are not affected. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. sth September, 1929.

Auckland City Sinking Funds and Empowering Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill; that the Standing Orders have been complied with ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are affected as follows —clause 6 proposes to vest a part of the foreshore at Point Chevalier in the Auckland City Council. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. sth September, 1929.

Timabu Harbour Board Loan Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill; that the Standing Orders have been complied with ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are not affected. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. sth September, 1929.

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Auckland Electric-power Board Amendment Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill; that the Standing Orders have been complied with; and that the rights and prerogatives of the' Crown are not affected. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. The Committee in the course of its consideration of the Bill has had representations made to it on matters which, while not within the objects of the Bill, it seems desirable to report to the House. They are — (a) The franchise for the election of members of the Auckland Electric-power Board is restricted to ratepayers, contrary to the prevailing practice in local-body representation and to principle now widely accepted. (Ib) The Auckland Electric-power Board exercises its functions under a special Act which, while closely following the general law under which other Power Boards function, yet introduces differences by way of addition and omission which, it is stated, cause inconvenience and are hard to justify. The repeal of this special Act was specifically urged in evidence given to the Committee. sth September, 1929.

Timaru Borough Empowering Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill; that the Standing Orders have been complied with; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are not affected. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. sth September, 1929.

Ciiristchurch Electricity and General Empowering Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, Ifas the honour to report that it is a local Bill ; that the Standing Orders have been complied with ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are not affected. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. 19th September, 1929.

Wellington City and Suburban Highways Construction and Hutt Road Amendment Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill ; that the Standing Orders have been complied with, with the exception of those parts of Standing Orders 361 and 366 which were suspended by the House ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are not affected. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. 19th September, 1929.

Borough of Lyttelton Corporation Enabling Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill; that the Standing Orders have been complied with ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are affected, inasmuch as the Bill proposes to vest in the Corporation of the Borough of Lyttelton certain land formerly taken for Defence purposes. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. 2nd October, 1929.

Wanganui Harbour Disirict and Empowering Amendment Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill; that the Standing Orders have been complied with ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are not affected. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. 2nd October, 1929.

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Christchurch City Reserves Amendment Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill ; that the Standing Orders have been complied with ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are not affected. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. 2nd October, 1929.

Otago Harbour Board Empowering Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill; that the Standing Orders have been complied with ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are not affected. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, w T ith the amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. 2nd October, 1929.

Manawatu-Oroua River District Amendment Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill ; that the Standing Orders have been complied with ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the' Crown are not affected. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. 2nd October, 1929.

Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill ; that the Standing Orders have been complied with ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are affected, inasmuch as the Bill proposes to vary a certain agreement entered into with the Hon. the Minister of Defence regarding certain land. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. 2nd October, 1929.

Wellington City and Suburban Water-supply Amendment Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill; that the Standing Orders have been complied with, with the exception of those parts of Standing Orders 361 and 366 which were suspended by the House ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are not affected. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 2nd October, 1929.

Gisborne Harbour Board Amendment Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the a.bove-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill; that the Standing Orders have been complied with ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are affected, inasmuch as clause 2 provides that certain lands partly covered' by the sea shall vest in the Gisborne Harbour Board. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. 14th October, 1929.

Sumner Borough Land Vesting Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill; that the Standing Orders have been complied with ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are affected, inasmuch as the Bill proposes to vest portion of a foreshore in the Sumner Borough Council. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. 14th October, 1929.

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Wellington City Milk-supply Amendment Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill; that the Standing Orders have not been strictly complied with, inasmuch as the last advertisement relating to the Bill was published more than thirty days after the commencement of the session—namely, on the 30th July ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are not affected. The Committee recommends that the Bill be not allowed to proceed. 14th October, 1929.

Hawke's Bay Rivers Amendment Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it is a local Bill ; that the Standing Orders have been complied with, with the exception of those parts of Standing Orders 361 and 366 which were suspended by the House ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are not affected. In view of a sharp difference of opinion between the Hawke's Bay Rivers Board and a section of the ratepayers as to the merits of the scheme contained in the Bill and those of an alternative scheme, and in view also of an election in January next for members of the Board, in which the chief issue is likely to be the adoption of one or other of the said schemes, the Committee recommends that the Bill be not allowed to proceed this session, and suggests to the Board that it promote another Bill next session. 29th October, 1929.

Petition of J. Pallesen and 418 Others, of Hawke's Bay. Praying for inquiry into the circumstances under which the approval of the Hon. the Minister of Public Works was granted to a certain scheme for flood-prevention in Hawke's Bay. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above petition, has the honour to report that, as the subject-matter of the petition was considered in connection with the Bill to which it relates and on which the Committee has reported, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 29th October, 1929.

Petition of Unaiki Matenga and 19 Others, of Hawke's Bay. Praying for relief in connection with the Hawke's Bay River Board's Ngaruroro and Tutaekuri drainage proposals. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above petition, has the honour to report that, as the subject-matter of the petition was considered in connection with the Bill to -which it relates and on which the Committee has reported, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 29th October, 1929.

Urban Farm-lands Rating Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred* the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the Bill and taken evidence thereon, and, in view of the numerous objections received from local bodies and of the undertaking by the Municipal Association that the matter of urban farm-land rating would be fully considered at its next Conference, the Committee recommends that the Bill be not allowed, to proceed. 29th October, 1929. (Note. —Minutes of evidence brought up and laid upon the Table. Not ordered to be printed.)

Otaki Borough Adjustment and Farm-lands Rating Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the Bill and taken evidence thereon, and recommends that the Bill be not allowed to proceed. 29th October, 1929.

Petone and Lower Hutt Gas-lighting Amendment Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the Bill, although introduced as a local Bill and an amendment to a local Act, really falls into two parts, one of which confers wide powers on a private company (which powers would normally be sought by means of a private Bill) ; that the Standing Orders relating to local Bills have been complied with ; and that the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are not affected. The Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with amendments as shown 011 the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. Ist November, 1929.

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Local Legislation Bill. The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the said Bill and taken evidence thereon, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. Ist November, 1929.

Special Report. The Local Bills Committee desires to bring to the notice of the House that the proceedings in connection with local Bills could be greatly facilitated and much time could be saved if local bodies promoting Bills would avail themselves of the opportunity which they have of submitting their Bills to the Department of Internal Affairs and to the Law Draftsman during the parliamentary recess. In many instances Bills come before the Committee requiring drastic revision from the point of view of rlraftmanship, and the Committee considers it undesirable that this work should be thrown on the Law Drafting Office during the session, when the pressure of work on that office is heavy, while provision for its being done during the recess is specially made by section 4 of the Statutes Drafting and Compilation Act, 1920. It is pointed out also that the Department of Internal Affairs, by circular dated the 10th March, 1927, invited all local bodies to submit their Bills to that Department before the session, and the Committee is of the opinion that it would be greatly in their own interests and would facilitate business generally if local bodies would take advantage of this offer. Ist November, 1929.

Special Report. The Local Bills Committee, by resolution, desires to place on record its appreciation of the able, impartial, and courteous manner in which its proceedings have been conducted during the session by the Chairman, Mr. C. A. Wilkinson ; and further desires that this resolution be reported to the House and be recorded in the Journals of the House. J, McCombs, 7th November, 1929. A Member of the Committee.

Special Report. The Local Bills Committee, by resolution, wishes to place on record its hearty appreciation of the excellent work done during the session by the Clerk, Mr. W. N. Wood, and desires that this resolution shall be recorded in the Journals of the House. 7th November, 1929.

Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Local Bills Committee, consisting of ten members, has held during the session twenty-one meetings, with an average attendance of seven members at each meeting. Twenty-three local Bills, two petitions, the Urban Farm-lands Rating Bill, the Otaki Borough Adjustment and Farm-lands Rating Bill, and the Local Legislation Bill were referred to the Committee, all of which were considered and reported on. 7th November, 1929. C. A. Wilkinson, Chairman.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (450 copies), £6 15s.

Authority : W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—1930.

Price 6d.~\