MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 303, 16 September 1920, Page 6

MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL

PROPOSED NEW CLAUSES

EXTENDED TRADING POWERS

The Municipal Corporations Bill was yestorday reported to the House by the committee to which it had been referred. The committee recommended ' that the Bill should be allowed to proceed with certain amendments. /

A new clauso inserted by tho committee provides that when nu extraordinary vacancy occurs in a municipal council within 6ix months of the date fixed for the next biennial election tho council may by resolution determine either that the vacancy shall be filled in the usual manner or that it shall not be filled.

Another new clause is the following:— "No business shall be transacted at any meeting of tho council or of any committee unless at least a quorum cf members is present thereat during tho whole time at which the business is transacted."

Under other fresh provisions in the Bill, the council of any borough in which the system of rating on capital value or unimproved value is in force, may, if it thinks fit, mako a valuation of now buildings or other improvements effected since tho last general revision by the Valuer-General of the valuation roll for the district. Property-owners may lodge objections, and have them dealt with in the samo manner as objections under the Valuation of Land Act, 1908.

Areas adjacent to a borough may be included therein if a commission set up uiion the petition of tho ocjincil reports that tho boundaries of the lwrough should be altered so as to include 6uch adjacent lands.

A property-owner in a borough may he required to remove, lower, or trim to the satisfaction of the council any tree or hedge, or to lower any fence if, in the opinjon of the council, such tree, hedge, or fence is likely, by obstructing the view,' to cause danger to- street traffic'.

The Governor-General may make regulations authorising borough councils to establish other trading enterprises than those specified in the present Act if such other enterprises are declared by the council to be necessary cr desirable in the .interests cf the citizens. REPATRIATIOOENEFITS NO EXTENSION AT PRESENT. Mr. E. M'Callum (Wairau) asked in the House if the Government would extend the benefits of the repatriation scheme to British soldiers who had settled in New Zealand since their dischaife. He said that these men had served the Empire as faithfully as New Zealand's own soldiers had done, and they were now citizens of this country. He had in mind the cases of a British farm worker who wished to secure land, and an ex-policeman who wanted assistance in the purchase of furniture. • The Hon. D. 11. Guthrie replied that he could only repeat what he had said already, that over 14,000 New Zealand soldiers had been assisted in various ways, and that probably 4000 more would require assistance. He could not extend the benefits of the repatriation scheme until these men had been provided for. The discharged British soldier who wanted a. loan for the purchase of furniture might get assistance if he applied to the local Repatriation Committee.