THE TOWS DISTRICTS BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 105, 27 August 1880, Page 2

THE TOWS DISTRICTS BILL.

The above Bill has been slaughtered amongst " the innocents," but as it is certain to be reintroduced next session, a brief outline of its contents will be of interest to our readers. There are many townships in the Colony which are not of the requisite size to be made Boroughs, and which are not sufficiently wealthy to be able to afford the rather luxurious form of local self-government which obtains in the large towns. In the Wellington district the want has been met by the formation of Local Board districts, and the Bill we are now considering really provides for Local Boards of an improved character. The Bill provides that existing Boards, in this provincial district are to remain in office until the expiration of their term of office, when a new Board is to be elected under the Act. No town is to be proclaimed a district under the Act unless there are at least 50 householders within it, and the locality is not to exceed two square miles. As in the case of the present Local Boards, town districts under the Act are to remain part of the County in which they are situated, but are not to be part of the Highways Board districts. The new Boards will be called " Town Boards," and will consist of not less than five members nor more than seven, as the Governor may direct. They will hold office for two years. The Bill proposes to give plurality of voting, as follows : — Up to £50 annual value, one vote ; up to £100, two votes ; up to £150, three votes ; up to £350, four votes ; £350 and over, five votes. All elections are to be carried out under " The Regulation of Local Elections Act, 187G," but provision is made that where the ratepayers fail to elect the Governor may appoint, while the sections of " The Local Boards Act " relating to persons ceasing to be Commissioners of the Board because of bankruptcy, &c, are incorporated. The Commissioner elected Chairman of the Board will hold that office until the expiry of the term of his membership. " The following clause is proposed to form part of the Bill : — "No Commissioner shall vote upon or take any part in the discussion of any matter before the Board in which he has directly or indirectly, by himself or his partners, any interest apart from any interest in common with the public ; and any Commissioner who knowingly offends against this section shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds for every such offence ; and on being convicted tbereot his seat in the Board shajl.becojnje vacant,'' The Board is to nave ho power over main or county roads traversing or lying within the town district, but subject to this provision is to have all the powers conferred upon Borough Councils by Part XI. of " The Municipal Corporations Act, 1876," also, the Board is empowered to contract with any person for lighting public lamps. The Town Board is to be the Local Board of Health, and may make by-laws in the same manner as is provided lor Borough Councils under part XII. of the Municipal Corporation Act. But perhaps the most important clause is No. 86, which provides that " Every Board shall have all the powers granted to a jßprough Counoil ,by any enactment relating to auctioneers, cattle trespass, cemeteries, dog nuisance, fencing, fire prevention, licensing publicans, municipal police, public pounds, roads or highways, and any other matter of social economy." The remaining provisions of the Bill relate to mere matters of routine, and do not therefore require special reference. We would again point out that this Bill has, owing to the lateness of the session, been dropped, but the Premier has stated his intention of introducing it again next . session. If passed, it will certainly be of great service, in putting the townships on a better footing as regards local self-government. In the hst of towns it is proposed to apply the Act to we notice both Foxton and Halcombe are included.