Two “Washing-Up” Bills

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1080, 18 September 1930, Page 6

Two “Washing-Up” Bills

SURPRISE SPRUNG IN HOUSE Early End to Session Presaged CLAUSES OF AUCKLAND INTEREST TIIE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Wednesday. TO the surprise of several members, both the “washing-up’’ Bills were introduced in the House this evening at 7.30 by Governor-General’s message. These Bills more formally rejoice in the titles of Local Legislation Bill, and Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill, respectively, and thenadvent presages a rather early end to the session. In each Bill, the former containing 52 clauses and the latter 12, there were several questions of Auckland interest, mostly clauses to validate expenditure or some other activity by local bodies.

In the first Bill the action of the Opotiki County Council in levying rates in excess of the limit in the Upper Waioeka and Coast ridings and the authorisation of the collection ol' the balance of rates unpaid is validated by one clause. In 1928 the county estimates were based on the old valuation rolls, but the rates were calculated on the new rolls, so that the rates levied in two ridings exceeded the maximum amount allowed by law The validation of the action of the Raglan County Council in contributing .£6OO toward the cost of erecting a bridge over the Main Trunk railway at Tuakau is sought. The contribution is to- be made by instalments over 10 years, with interest payable on the unpaid balance at the rate of 6 per cent. The validation of expenditure by the Cambridge Borough Council is sought in another clause. In 1924 the council was authorised by the ratepayers to raise a loan of £37,900 for establishing a gravitation water supply. In the voting paper one purpose named was for “tho purchase of land for a catchment area.” Later the council entered into an agreement with the Crown and neighbouring local bodies for the common purchase of the Maunagatautari scenic reserve for the purpose and the council contributed £259 out of the loan. DEVONPORT CEMETERY In 1891 a portion of the Devonport cemetery was closed by an Order-In-Council, but the order did not name the body corporate in which the closed portion was to be vested. In accordance with an agreement between the Church of England trustees, in whom the area was formerly vested, and the Devonport Borough Council, a clause in the Local Legislation Bill seeks to vest in the council as a closed burial-ground. Tho authorisation of a payment by tho Pukekohe Borough Council of a compassionato allowance of £IOO to Mrs. E. A. Deane, widow of the late town clerk, is sought. Power is sought for the Takapuna Borough Council to transfer two small areas of land to Frederick William Gaze and Caroline Lawson Hills. The council constructed a public road along the foreshore contiguous to the seaward boundaries of a number of properties. Two small areas at each end of a subdivision were not included in the road. They are situated between tho respective boundaries of the owners of the frontages and the line of the road. The property-owners concerned agreed to waive any claim for compensation for loss of riparian rights, provided the council transferred the areas to them. _ Authority for the Tuakau Town Board is sought to contribute £l7O toward the cost of building a bridge over the railway line at Tuakau by making instalments over a period of 10 years. MOUNT ROSKILL LOAN DIVERSION One clause asks authority for the diversion of loan money by the Mount Roskill Road Board. In 1926 the board raised a loan of £ 5,500 for purchasing a stone-crushing plant and developing a stone quarry at Three Kings. After spending £872 of the loan the board found that the erection of a crushing-plant was unnecessary as the stone was found to be ready for road-making when screened. Tho board abandoned the work and now has an unexpended balance of £4,527. The clause seeks to authorise the board to use this money on other public works in accordance with section 47 of the Finance Act, 1929. Power for the Howick Town Board to tako a strip of land Bft wide for a road to provide access to certain properties which at present have no means of access by road is sought. Authority for the Wliakatane Harbour Board to transfer two perches of land to the borough council without payment for the erection of Plunket rooms and a women’s rest room is sought in one clause. Another clause aims at the validation of the agreement between the Auckland Sailors’ Home and the Missions to Seamen Society, whereby the former agrees to transfer certain land to the latter to be held upon the same trusts and for tho same purposes for which the Sailors’ Home previously held land, inter alia, as a site for a mission hall and recreation rooms. Power for the Auckland Harbour Board is also sought to convey to the Missions to Seamen Society a small area for rounding-off purposes. A petition has been received praying for the union of Hungahunga. Waitoa, Elstow and Tahuna drainage districts. The maximum number of members of the board of trustees allowed under the existing law is seven, and the clause aims at power to fix a board not exceeding 12 members if the union is effected TROTTING CLUBS’ MERGER Validation is sought of the merging of the Otahuhu Trotting Club and the Auckland Trotting Club. The merger is conditional on the property and assets of the Otahuhu Club being vested, in the Auckland Club. Section 6 of the Gaming Amendment Act, 1924, provides that on the dissolution of a trotting club the assets remaining shall be disposed of for public or charitable purposes in such a manner as tho club may, with the approval of tho Minister of Internal Affairs, have determined before its dissolution, or in default of such determination in a manner appointed by the Governor-General-in-Council. In view of the terms of that section it is doubtful whether the assets of the Otahuhu Club can be vested in the Auckland Club on the merger’s taking place. The object of the clause is to remedy that state of affairs. Authority is sought to change the purpose of the expenditure under the Auckland Transport Board’s tramway development loan of £526,000. The loan was inter alia for certain tramway extensions including the extension described as the Mount Eden Road. The Three Kings Road and the Mount Eden Road form a continuous line of roadway, but the fact that part of it is named Three Kings is not generally known. The board intended that the tramway extension on Mount Eden Road should include Three Kings Road, but as this was not mentioned in the proceedings there is not statutory authority for it. The object of the clause is to enable the extension to be made along Three Kings Road to

comply with the original intention of tho board Since beginning the works authorised by the loan the board has found that it would be more economical and equally efficient if certain variations were made. The variations involve the linking-up of existing tram routes instead of forming new routes, thus saving a considerable sum of money. The board desires authority whereby these variations may be authorised if necessary. Part of the clause seeks to empower the Local Government Loans Board to authorise such diversions from the original pro gramme. SECOND “WASHING-UP” BILL In the other “washing-up” Bill two clauses appear relating to local body affairs in tho Auckland Province. The first aims at extinguishing rights by way of allotment concerning Beatty Avenue, Sandringham, Auckland. The land is designated as Beatty Avenue on the plan of part of the Sandringham extension, but the dedication as a road was not proceeded with. Part of the land in the township, however, was resubdivided and in fairness to the new owner it is desired that tho land be freed from right-of-way provisions. Accordingly the clause makes provision for this. The second clause seeks to set apart the Arikikapakapa Reserve, Rotorua, as a recreation reserve and to authorise the registration of the lease to the Rotorua Golf Club. The area is 158 acres 2 roods 24 perches and the land has always been regarded as a public reserve for recreation purposes, but has never been actually so reserved. The Rotorua golf links are laid out on a portion of the adjoining Arikikapakapa Reserve extension and that area has been properly reserved as a public recreation ground, both reserves being under the control of the Minister in Charge of Tourist and Health Resorts. The Rotorua Golf Club has for some time held the lease over the golf links area of some 124£ acres and a new lease of 21 years from January 3, 1930, was recently granted to the club. Under tho terms of the lease the club is required to allow tourists and other visitors to play on the course subject to reasonable ground charges. It Is desired to register the lease and to enable this to be done it will be necessary for the Crown to obtain the title to the land concerned. The clause aims at the validation of the registration of the lease.