CITY COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1418, 19 April 1912, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

GENERAL MUNICIPAL REMITS. Tho .ordinary fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last evening, tho Acting-Mayor (Councillor .T. Smith) •presiding. Also present wero: Councillors 11. Fletcher, D. M'Laren, J. Fuller, jun., ,T. E. Fitzgerald, W. lE. P. Barber, L. M'Kenzie, J. Godber, A. R. Atkinson, J. Trevor, G. Frost, and F. Cohen. Tho. City Solicitor was authorised to issuo a writ of ejectment on two tenants of the I'ahiatiw endowment, for noncompletion of the lease. Nine ratepayers were granted loans on tho deferred payment system, in order to carry, out drainage works, tho applicants being without funds. Remits, as appearing below, camo up in connection with tho Municipal Association.' Some discussion arose over t'je second. Some councillors defended the present democratic method of electing Mayors, and Councillor Fletcher moved that service c.n the council should be a compulsory qualification of candidates for tho Mayoral office. The amendment was lost, and the motion to retain the remit was carried by seven votes to six, whereupon Councillor Fletcher gave notice to move that the motion he rescinded. Another clause to the effect that all water be supplied through meters was referred back for further consideration. Tho text of the various remits was #8 follows:— ' ... That, if tho present' mode . of . electing the Mayor be retained, his . term of office shall ho extended so as to coino into lino with that of councillors, as .they .aro elected at. present. That councils elect their own Mayors. That in. future the Christian names in full should b» added to the electors' roll, i« well as tho surname, and that iniliafe 'only should not ho-permitted. That endeavours should be made to secure the repeal of . the provision of Section 10 of the Local Bodies' Loans Ameud:.niont Act, 11)08, which provides for the payment of all sinking -fund moiievs t.o tli!) Public Trustee for investment for local J.'odfes. That as the legislation as. to the maintenance and construction of privato ways- is unsatisfactory, legislation should bo passed authorising the council to (ieal with theso matters on ...tho lines of tho Local Government '.'Act, i<JO3, of Victoria. This A'ot gives the council power to construct these ways after giving notice to parties interested of its intention, and depositing plans and specifications for inspection for a fixed period, and also for tho allocation of tho charges in proper proportions. That fresh legislation be obtained dealing with tho licensing of hoardings. That an endeavour he made to have Section 117 of the Public Works Act, 1!I08, repealed. This section provides for the dedication on subdivision of strip* of land sufficient to widen the street to an extent that 33 foot will l>o provided between the middle lino of the street and tho face of the subdivided land. Tho Act hns been in force for twelve years. No streetwidening has bcon carried out uudcr it. That the Crown's exemption from rates bo abolished. That statutory provisions should he . enacted to vest drainage rights in all persons using common drains, and provision should be mado for registration of thesa rights.