DISABILITY UNDER PUBLIC WORKS ACT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 4 May 1907, Page 2

DISABILITY UNDER PUBLIC WORKS ACT.

Per Press Association. Dunedin, May 3. Mr. Le Cren, Mayor .of Moraington, and Mr. .1. F. Arnold, M.H.R., leave tomorrow for Wellington, where they are to interview the .Minister for Public Works in reference to a provision in one of the Public Works Acts which they consider will injuriously affect the borough if enforced. It appears that where a street is under a certain width, the owner of properly fronting that street may call on the Council to pass a resolution affirming that the street will never be widened. In one particular ease (Hawthorn Avenue), the Morniii«ton Council were so requested, but declined to pass the resolution, whereupon (he owner dedicated a strip of his frontage to the borough, and sent in a bill for £sllO compensation. This power of dedication is in accordance with the law, where the Council decline to guarantee that they will not ultimately widen a narrow street, and it is ou this point that the Moruingtou Council want relief. The borough contains many narrow streets, and the Council cannot afford to widen them now, but do not wish to bind themselves never to do so, and many cases of dedication, with consequent claims for compensation would ruin the finances.