MUNICIPAL LAW.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1928, Page 8

MUNICIPAL LAW.

AMENDED BY COMMITTEE. PURGING OF THE ROLLS. A select .committee of the House of .Representatives has made a number of changes in the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill. It has been placed within the discretion of municipalities to direct whether persons who have not voted in a municipal election shall subsequently be removed from the electors’ roll. The disqualification of councillors’ clause is slightlj r modified to provide that a councillor cannot be disqualified by reason of his interest in a contract made before his election, the eoinmittec adding: “If before the election his obligation under such contract has been performed and amount to be paid by the council has been fixed.” A graduated scale of water rates, based on the annual value, it to contain a. minimum of 10/. The committe has extended provisions regarding the closing of •streets, so that ample notice shall be given to the public and plans shall be made available lor inspection. If objections are received a meeting of electors is to be called to consider them. 1 lie clause giving councils control over licensing buildings for public purposes has been amended to 'provide that any licensee whose license lias been suspended or cancelled can appeal- to a magistrate, not, as formerly, to the Supreme' Court. A council, states a new sub-section, may refuse to grant license for an assembly room, theatre, music or danoing hall if it is satisfied that the applicant is not a person of' good character and leputntion. The committe lias deleted a clause empowering the commissioners o.f sinking funds to advance moneys out‘of depreciation funds for the extension of an existing undcrtaiviirg. All the new clauses of .the hill relating to municipal accounts are operative from April 1, 1929.