LOCAL BILLS PASSED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20031, 1 September 1939, Page 12

LOCAL BILLS PASSED

WANGANUI PORT SCHEME STRONG- OBJECTIONS (Por Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this clay. Most of the afternoon session of the House of Representatives yesterday was devoted to consideration of local bills. The following measures were read the second time, passed through the committee stages, given their third reading, and passed:—Christchurch Tramway District Amendment Bill OMr. R. M. 'Macfarlane), providing for altering the date of the election of the Christchurch Tramway Board; New Plymouth Borough Land Exchange and Empowering Bill (Mr. E. L. Frost), authorising the exchange of land between the New Plymouth Harbour Board and the New Plymouth Borough Council, and also authorising the council to hold carnivals; Bluff Borough Council Empowering Bill (Mr. J. Hargest), providing for a refund of rates paid by the trustees of the Bluff Sailors’ Rest; Nelson Harbour Board Empowering Bill (Mr. H. Atmore), enabling work to be done and moneys raised in connection -\yith the Nelson airport; Christchurch City Council Empowering Bill (Mr. Macfarlane), authorising the city council to set aside certain lands for the purpose of housing aged persons; Papanui Memorial Hall Enabling Bill (Mr. Macfarlane), authorising the Christchurch City Council to have future control of the hall; and the Bluff Harbour Board and Bluff Borough Council Empowering Amendment Bill (Mr. Hargest),, increasing’; the harbour board’s borrowing authority. The Auckland Transport Board Rating Exemption Bill (the AttorneyGeneral, the Hen. H. G. R. Mason) was withdrawn. Wanganui Expenditure A considerable portion of-the afternoon was occupied by the second reading debate on the Wanganui Harbour District and Empowering Amendment Bill (Mr. J. F. B. Cotterill), providing for improvements to ’ the port of Wanganui. The bill met with considerable opposition from members representing the surrounding districts, Messrs. WJ. Poison, H. G. Dickie and the Hon. J. G. Cc'bbe, who contended that expenditure on the port had already been considerable and that it would be impossible to create a deep sea port at Wanganui. The debate on the second reading of this measure was adjourned at 5.25. The acting-Leader of tile House, the Hon. P. Fraser-, stated that an opportunity would be given to Mr. Cotterill later during. the present session to bring the bill before the House again.

The Waikato Airport Bill (Mr. C. H. Barrell) was read the first time and referred to the Local Bills Committee.