MORE BY-LAWS FOR RURAL AREAS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 129, 22 August 1927, Page 10

MORE BY-LAWS FOR RURAL AREAS

COUNTIES AMENDMENT BILL BEFORE HOUSE (THE SUS S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, To-day. Rural districts are not likely to escape the benefits and irks of bylaw rule much longer. The Counties Amendment Hill was introduced in the House by the Minister of Internal Affairs, under which wider powers are given county councils. Included among these powers is authority to make bylaws to prevent danger from fire and to make owners of buildings provide lire escapes where such are deemed necessary. County councils may regulate or licence the keeping in the counties of animals, reptiles and birds, or prohibit their retention where, in the opinion of the council concerned, they are likely to become a nuisance. The expected provisions regarding the regulation of hoardings are contained in the bill, but it is to be laid down that any restrictive provisions are not to apply to existing hoardings or advertisements for a period of not less than five years from the date of making the by-laws. If the bill is passed by Parliament the counties will also have authority to acquire land and buildings for recreational purposes and to improve them. Another clause seeks to give permission to the councils to contribute toward the cost of construction of wharves, whether they are within the boundaries of the county or not, but which, in the opinion of the council concerned, are likely to be of benefit to the inhabitants of the county. The existing authority under which county councils may dissolve road boards and merge road districts in the county is to be slightly lessened by limiting the authority to road districts the capital value of which is less than one-half of the total capital value of the county.