BILLS IN COMMITTEE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1886, 22 October 1913, Page 4

BILLS IN COMMITTEE.

RjVER BOARDS; A (iONTENfIOUS RATING CLAUSE. Tlio Rivei Boards Amendment Bill (tlie Hon. 1, L. liehlmaJi) was committed. ' Some discission took place upon the.

clauscs dealing with tho reduction. <renlargement of river districts and with • their abolition. As drafted, tho Bill provided that cither boundary alterations or the abolition of a district might be proclaimed by, the Governor on receipt of a petition signed'by not less than one-fourth of tho ratepayers • concerned. The Minister accepted amendments substituting, in each caso, "a major-• ity," for "one-fourth," of tho ratepayers. Mr. M'Callum • called for a : division, oil Clause 4, providing tliat where members wero not duly olccted; tho Governor mierlit- elect tho required number of Qualified persons to tho board. The clause was retained by 31 votes to 26. \ • • Clause fi provides' that river board rates shall lie. levied on a graduated Bcnto unless tho Minister of ■ Internal Affairs is satisfied that all tlie lands liable to be rated will derive practically equal benefit, in which case ho may authorise tho hoard to impose a uniform rate. Mr. T. M. Wilford /Hutt.) strongly opposed the clause, • He said that it was introduced for tho benefit Of Wai- x rarapa, not for the benefit of Hutt and other districts, 'and Hutt did not Want it. The clause would enable largo land-owners to impose a uniforrii Trtfl over a whole district, which would ba most unfair* /■ Mr. M'Callum suggested that the districts of Marlborough and Hutt should bo exempted from tho provisions of tho claxise. ' . Mr. D. Buiok said he hoped tho Min- . ister would, go on with his Bill, and put it on the Statute Book. A division was taken on the first -subclause of tho clause at 0.15 a.m., tho ' having been called by Mr \\ ilford. The clause \Vas retained by 32 votes to '15. This sub-olaus© provides tlj&t every rate made after the passing of the Act shall bo levied on a graduated scale, but it gives tlio Minister of Internal Affairs power to direct in certain circumstances that the rata may be levied on a uniform scale. Mr. JR. M'Callum objected to the- inclusion of tho -proviso that the rate' shall not bo imposed on any property' much has not received, and'is not like-'' ly to receive, any benefit from tlio ex-=' pendituro 111 respect of which tho rata is made. / A division was demanded by the member for. Hutt,-but tlio proviso was retained by 32 votes to 13. 'Another division was taken on tho wbolo of tho ' clause (6). The -'clause Was retained by-30 votes to 14. Several new clauses w©ro .added, and' the Bill. was reported wit-li amend- ■ monts. WATER SUPPLY. The Water Supply Amendment Bill (the Hon. A. L-. Herdma.ll) Was' committed, and reported with amendments, RANGITAIkI DRAINAGE, Drainage Amendment J , e -■ • Miissey) was passed through Committee without ment.The House rose at 0.47 a.in.