MUNICIPAL LAW.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1898, 5 November 1913, Page 8

MUNICIPAL LAW.

MOTOR BUSES;

THE ELECTION OF MAYORS. f

Tho next item, on the Order Paper was tho Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill, down for consideration of report'from Committee. ; '

Dr. A., K. NEWMAN (Wellington East)-called attention to a'clause in tho Bill which allowed municipalities -to draw -upon their district funds iif order to buy motor buses. In the case of some of the smaller boroughs; the district fund was so small that it would not bear the cost of even ono motor bus, which .might run .to £900 or £1000. Ho suggested that the Minister should have a clause inserted, in tho Upper House, permitting, small municipalities to borrow money for tho purchase of motor buses. Otherwise lie was quite sure that this clause would bo of little uso.

Mr. T. K. SIDEY (Dunedin South) moved to recommit the Bill for tho purposo of reconsidering Clause 5, which provides for the biennial election of Mayors. Ho recalled tho fact that when the Bill camo. down it contained a clauso providing for tlio election of Maj'ors by municipal councils. Before tho Statutes Revision Committee this clause was altered to provide that mayors should bo elected on the present franchise, but biennially instead of annually as at present. In this form tho clause was passed after slight ""consideration in a thin House. Personally he favoured the present system, and considered that the proposal in the Bill was a retrograde step. If one year was not long enough for a good Mayor to administer • the affairs of a municipality it was quite long enough for a bad Mayor. Tho fact that tho Mnnicipal Conference had rejected a proposal to elect Mayors onco in two years instead of annually should suffice to discountenance any attempt to interfere with the' presont system. He thought that a vote of the Houso should be taken on tho question.

Mr. A. E. GLOVER (Auckland Central) supported the proposal to recommit tho Bill.

Mr. T. H. DAVEY (Christchureh East) opposed tho amendmont and oommended the proposal to elcct Mayors only once in two years.

Mr. R. • M'CALLUM (Wairau) strongly supported tho amendment.' Mr. C. E. STATHAM (Dunedin Central) supported tho Bill as it stood, and opposed the amendment. The amendment was negatived by 31 votes to 24.

Tho Hon. F. Jr. B. FISHER said that tho House had come to n. wiso conclusion. A two-year term for Mayors would! mako continuity of policy possible. Tho Bill as a whole was a good one, and would stimulate municipal en--torprise throughout tho country. Tho Bill was read a thixcl timo on tho voices. »