LOCAL CONTROL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 407, 25 October 1911, Page 7

LOCAL CONTROL.

EXTENDED POWERS FOR MUNICIPAL BODIES. The Municipal Corporations Amend- | ment Bill, which was introduced on ! Wednesday, extends the powers of | local authorities in several directions. j It deals with elections to fill Mayoralvacancies. The clause provides that in the case of resignation, death, incapacity or ouster from office, the j vacancy shall be deemed to be extraov- ! dinary, and shall be filled by an elec- ] tion. If the vacancy occurs within j three months of the day fixed for the election of councillors, however, the vacancy may be filled by the councillors from among their number until the day of the poll. If the vacancy occurs and is filled within three months of the day fixed for the annual election of Mayor, the election shall hold good for the year and odd months. The clause of the original Act givr ing power to acquire land and erect markets is amended by the addition of the following words, "and upon the establishment of any such market the council may by by-law prescribe that no person shall sell by auction any fish' at any place within the borough other than the market." A new clause provides that on the application of the council the Governor may extend the hour for the closing of a poll in the borough till 8 o'clock; the Order-in-Council to have effect at all polls until revoked by a subsequent Order-in-Council made on the application of the council. There are also provisions for the constitution of new boroughs, the alteration of boundaries, and the division into wards by means of Order-in-Council. Power is given to a council to establish, maintain and regulate a service for the conveyance of passengers and goods to and from any place within the borough, or, with the consent of any neighbouring local authority, between any place within the borough and any placf within the district of that local authority, or a council may contribute out of its district fund to any such service; but the clause shall not authorise a council to construct any tra/riway or railway.