AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1929, Page 2

AVIATION

INCREASED POWERS FOR LOCAL BODIES. WELLINGTON, July 16. Important proposals, designed to help the progress of aviation in New Zealand, are contained in the Local Authorities Empowering (Aviation Encouragement Bill). It is divided into two parts. The ,; rst gives authority to local bodies to contribute towards the cost of making landing places for aircraft, contributions being based upon the amount of unauthorised expenditure which a local body may lmfke. The existing municipal law allows so much to a local body by way of unauthorised expenditure, the amount in each case being fixed according to the population and the rating value in the district. In effect, the Bill enables a local body to expend an additional amount, equal to the statutory amount of unauthorised expenditure, as a contribution towards' the cost of providing a landing gronnu. In ->ther words, the amount elf its unauthorised expenditure may be doubled. If it is desired to allocate more than this extra amount of unauthorised expenditure for aviation purposes, a local body may apply for the necessary permission to the Local Government Loans Board. Part 11. of the Bill is important, in that it meets the position where local bodies desire to go in for a good deal of expenditure to provide aerodromes. Many local authorities are.now prepared to provide aerodromes, but no legal sanction exists for them to incur the large .costs which may be involved. This part of the Bill .provides for the necessary machinery and authority for raising the money, and if the Bill is passed it will not be necessary to seek the approval of the ratepayers. The Bill meets the position o'f several local bodies who arc willing to accept offers of land for aviation grounds, but who are unable by law to incur the necessary amount of expenditure involved in putting the grounds into order for the purpose because of the absence of statutory authority.