The Local Authorities Bill, 1900.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 161, 11 June 1901, Page 3

The Local Authorities Bill, 1900.

ALTERATIONS SUGGESTED BY THE WAIMATE COUNTY COUNCIL,

Clause 5, Sub-section 7%—Any part of the county comprising not more than nine square miles, with no points more than six miles from each other, and a population of not less than 200, shall bo declared borough districts. Recommend that the area be reduced by onehalf. Clause 19 (c)—Division IT, Residential qualification (residence of three months for electors); that the Council does not ap-

iprave of this clause, being of Opinion that the Qualification in the Counties Act, Sec. 59 and GO, is a wise provision 'for Just representation, and thoroughly efficient in that respect. The contemplated extension to householders would tend to place too much power in the hands of an irresponsible and migratory population. It would, moreover, add 20 to 30 per cent, extra to the cost of administration. Great difficulty is already experienced in keeping rolls up to date, but if the qualification were extended to residents it would be considerably aggravated, (n). — Mining qualification after two mouth’s residence. Six months instead of two. Clauses 21 and 22.—Voting power for one Hiding only. —Voting pow r er for each Hiding in which elector bolds property. Clause 25. Hoil closed fouryhu days before poll.—Hecuin/icnd thirty days instead of fourteen. Clause 15. —Chairman may bo voted an allowance of £-.100. —Hecomniend that this bo reduced to ARK). Clause 03. —Term of Councillor to be reduced to two years. Hecommends that the term bo three years as at present. Clause rid, sub. Sec. 11.—Travellingallowance to members 10sdaily. Recommend AT Is daily. Clause 00. Annual Covernmentsubsidy. iucommend that it be iOs in the A', and grants done

away with. Clause 108. Annual recurring separate ratf'. .Recommend addition of lOJa. —Thau power be secured under this Act for any local authority to levy and ooiiocb a small annual recurring rate not exceeding £t-h of a penny in the £ for the purpose of providing a reserve fund to meet extraordinary expenditure such as bridge reconstruction or repairing Hood or other ■damages. Clause lyl.—A Council or Councils ■may raise a special loan by special order without taking a poll.—Recommend poll of rate-

Cituu-m Lsi. —In case usual allocation of surpluses in each district cannot bo made every year, each riding shall receive more or less in the succeeding years till it has received its proportionate share. Recommend that sec. H of the Public ’Works Act, 1000, be adopted, The word -i District" to mean “ Hiding," and “ Governor" to uman Council, and that any Council may order a riding to contribute towards the public works and maintenance of roads in any adjoining riding, or a Council may out of its revenues contribute towards

wonts in any otlior riding in which H may bn interested. Clause Cod.—Sale or exchange of lands bold. Compensation for m tieriais taken from private lands,—Recommend that wiivro access is obtained through private property full comnensation —where taken from riverbeds lid per cubic yard to be tho maximum. Section 2-5,‘5 sub-sect, b.—ln the matter of the liability of property holders to grub, remove plants off roads, attention is directed to the ruling of Chief Justice Prendergast in a case decided at Wanganui in Oct. iHfJH, whereby tho onus of proof of the spread of the plants from the property of the person ordered to clear them, rests on the Local Authority, failing which no conviction is obtainable.—lt is suggested f&e Act should be amended to render the pioporty holies liable to clear the road le,serves, when plants are growing on their lands contiguous to the road frontage in respect of which

the notice to clear thorn has been served. Clause 251. Straying cattle to be taken to nearest pound. Recommend that the “nearest pound” be the nearest by the nearest accessible road route. Clause 257. Exemptions from paying tolls. Recommend additions of any other officer

or servant of the Council.” Clause 1309. Inspection of milk and dairies. The Council is of opinion that this is more within the province of the Minister of Agriculture

than that of Administrative bodies. Clause 1334. Noxious plants. Council may clear noxious weeds from land under its control. Recommend that Councils be exempted from claim for damage to any adjacent lands resulting from their clearing noxious weeds or other obstructions.