ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1784, 24 January 1888, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A speofal meeting of the Borough Council was held at their Chamber*, Baring Squaro, last evening. Present — His Worship the Mayor, and Coucclllort H. Fried'ander, Williamson, Scott, Scaly, Boberts, Reid, and Tucker,

The absence of Or Thomas waß apologised for, The purpose for whioh the special meeting was called was to oonsldor a petition which hnd been received from eleven lessees of Borough reserves, asking the Counoil to take sjrae steps to reduce the rents they were paying, and whic they complained of as excessive. They ■aid the hardships of their position would bo greatly Increased shortly, by reason of a clause In their lease providing for a rise of 50 per oent. m their rent at the expiration of seven years. When they took the seotlnni times were good, and they had expeoted the property wou'd increase m value, but, Instead, the reverse had been the oase.

The Mayor said that the Council had no power to Interfere with the rents under the Municipal Corporations Act, but Bnch authority was given In the Local Bodies Powers Aot 1887. Bafore, however, they could proceed under tho latter measure they would, however, have to adopt the Aot, and obtain permission by an Order-In-Oouncll authorising them to take advantage of Its provisions. Cr H. Frledlander asked, If they adopted the Aot, would it be retrospective — oould they deal with leases made before the adoption of the Aot by the Council. Tho Mayor thought they would have that power. ,He read Clause 10 of the Aot. Cr Frledlander thought It open to question whether the Mayor's Interpretation of the Act was the oorreot one.

Cr Taoker said tbat he was under 'he impression the Act had been brought m m order to provide means to afford relief to Government tenants, who were oompTalnlng, and It bad been also decided at tie same time to give local bodies tbe power to deal with the matter of their tenants' leases.

Or Frledlander thought It would be advisable to find out if the Act really gave the Council power. He advooatsd taking the solicitor's opinion whether if they adopted the Act It would be retroapmmUmm- _... ... __.._... Or Williamson s»ld that It appeared to him that nnder the Aofc the leases wonld have to be oancelled by mutual consent, and fresh arrangements made. Or Reid advocated referring the whole question to a Committee.

Or Tucker moved the adoption, of tne Local Bodies Powers Act, and that the Governor be requested to issue an Order-ln-Oonncll as required by law. The motion was carried.