MUNICIPAL LAW

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 126, 24 November 1932, Page 7

MUNICIPAL LAW

TRIENNIAL POUS

VARIETY OF AMENDMENTS

CONTROL OF TAXI-SABS

Triennial in place of biennial *.pSections are provided for in the anrfeii fling clauses of the Municipal Corporations Bill, a measure of 394 sections, the majority of which are of a cc'msolidating nature, which was introduced into the House of Kepreseiita>> tives last night by, Governor-General's^ Message. There are many other im■> portant provisions. , )

As,explained by the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. A: Hamilton) the twenty new clauses in the Bill deal with alterations1 which have been asked for by the Municipal Association of New Zealand, the Bill itself being a consolidation and verbal revision of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1920, and amendments made since that date.

The alterations are classed under three headings, namely, draughting calculated to improve the language, and arrangement of the present law; minor amendments designed to remedy defects and generally improve the legislation; and substantive major alterations to the law.

Dealing with the proposed altera: tions of the law, the Minister said it was proposed' that after 1935 municipal elections should be held every three years. Provision was also made for the filling of vacancies by giving councillors power to fill such vacancies as occurred within twelve months preceding a general election. Names of non-voting residentials would be omitted from rolls after elections.

The next general election of councillors is to take place on the first Wednesday in May, 1933, and the next election will bo held on the same day in 1935. Thereafter the election is to ibe held on the first Wednesday in May in every third year. The concession given to owners of unoccupied dwellings in the payment of half rates is not to apply to charges for water supplied through a meter. AMALGAMATION OF BOROUGHS. In cases in which the "amalgamation of adjoining boroughs is proposed the Governor-General may, in cases where there is a difference of opinion, appoint a Commission, consisting of a Magistrate, the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the district, ' and the District Valuer, to inquire .whether the proposed united borough should be constituted. In the event'of the report I being favourable, the Governor-Gene-ral may issue a proclamation uniting these several boroughs. Councils are authorised to make provision in any street for a safety area for pedestrians and to plant trees on aiiy street. ' The list of prohibitions placed on the use of public cycle-tracks is extended to include horses, cows, and other beasts. The compensation payable ito the owner of a property where the building line has been set back is limited to the' difference in the value of the land or. building before the building line was set back and the value of the remainder after such action has been taken. In cases in which councils undertake the laying of private drains, it is provided that the council may apportion the total cost between the) owners affected. / Councils also have: the right to compel owners of private drains to convey the discharge', into the sea. . J ABVANCES TO OWNERS. Power is given to councils to make advances to owners of premises to enable them to connect ' their premises with the drainage system of the boroughs. Repayments may be made in one amount or by instalments over a number, of years, and the maximum rate of interest to be charged is fixed at 6 per cent, per annum. These charges 'stand in the same category as rates for the purposes of collection. ' ' Except with' the express permission of harbour boards, councils are debarred from arranging for the discharge of sewage matter into harbours. Flood protective works may be erected by councils outside the borough boundaries if property of the corporation is likely to be endangered. Before water may be supplied to persons outside a borough the consent j of the local authority of the district in which the supply is given must be obtained. This is also applicable in the case of gas, and electricity supplies.

The powers of avrest at present possessed by volunteer fire police are restricted to occasions on which they' are engaged at a fire.

The clause in the original Act giving officers of the council the right to enter on land or buildings for the inspection of gas fittings has been extended to provide that in any case of emergency, involving possible danger to life or property from any suspected escape of gas, the officer may make an

entry at any hour of the day on any day of the week.

Advances may be made by councils to occupiers of premises ■ for ' the installation of gas or electricity and similar, provisions are made for repayment as in the case of drainage. GRANTS BY COUNCILS. Under the provisions of the Bill councils may make grants of money or leases of land to public bodies formed for the object of conserving the health of the community, or attending the sick or injured and generally for any purposo of recreation, enjoyment, health, education ,or instruction, or' of improving or developing public amenities. The provisions in respect of advances to workers by municipalities are extended.. Local bodies may now advance money for the purchase of dwellings which have already been erected. After 10 per cent, of the principal owing by a worker has been repaid, the council.and the worker may. enter linto a new agreement for the repayment of the balance: Provision is iuade for the capitalisation of - arrears at? interest which are rto be treated asl outstanding principal. Councils aro empowered to expend a x\ortion of mining and goldfields reveh\Wto encourage prospecting either with.ta or outside .the borough. Th c provision in the original Act empo-.^ring councils to execute works for w.Wch owners and occupiers have defauMcd is extended to provide that sums recovered by the council may be classified as portions of rates due. CONTROLLING TAXICABS. Extens.Vms are made in the powers of councils to make bylaws. The most impo.Vtant of these refers to the licensing i vnd regulation of vehicles plying for hire for the carriage of passengers c'/r goods and limiting the number of licences and limiting, and regulating th.& daily hours of work of drivers of liaised vehicles. • In explaining this to the House, the Minister s.alid the object- was to bring taxicabs under the control of the municipalities. Bylaws are to be subject to the provisions of Acts dealing with questions of' transport. Power is also g tven to make' bylaws regulating, contro Uing, or prohibiting the. erection of hoardings or other structures for the display of advertisements. Municipalities may also proscribe the scales o^ annual fees for •hoardings and may" require disused hoardings to be. remo Ved. Regulations may also be made to control the. storage of goods of an infl'&mmable nature.