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Local Legislation Bill The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the Local Legislation Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same and taken evidence thereon, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed with amendment as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. 12th October, 1949.

Lower Hutt City Empowering (Community Centres) Bill The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report: — (1) That it is a Local Bill. (2) That the Standing Orders have been complied with, except in the following respects, but were suspended in these respects by the House to enable the Bill to be introduced and proceeded with : (a) Standing Order 361 was not complied with, in that notice of intention to introduce the Bill was not published within the prescribed time ; and (6) Standing Order 366 was not complied with in so far as it relates to the number of days from the commencement of the session within which Local Bills may be introduced. (3) That the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are affected, in that clause 8 (2) makes the rate or levy proposed to be made in terms of the Bill payable in respect of dwelling units owned by His Majesty the King. (4) That the Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed with the amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. 13th October, 1949.

Special Report By direction of the Local Bills Committee, I have the honour to present the following Special Report on Local Bills referred to the Committee during the present session : The Committee desires once more to draw attention to the frequency with which Standing Orders 361 and 366 are ignored by local authorities promoting legislation. Fourteen Local Bills were introduced, and in only five instances were these Standing Orders complied with. Examination of the proposals contained in the Bills, revealed that in almost all cases the delay in introduction and in publishing notice of intention to introduce the legislation was not warranted. Furthermore, in two cases a Standing Order containing a vital principle was infringed. This was Standing Order 364, which provides that when it is intended to take power to deal with any lands, plans or surveys of such lands shall be deposited for public inspection in the Magistrates' Court and in the office of the local authority promoting the legislation. In the opinion of the Committee this Standing Order is of the utmost importance, in giving a valuable safeguard to the public, and compliance with it should invariably be insisted upon. The Committee considers that the tendency of local authorities to disregard the rules of Parliament is one that should be stopped, and strongly recommends that in future the House should not consent to suspend the Standing Orders except when it can be shown that adequate reason therefor exists ; or, preferably, that the suggestion contained in the Committee's Special Report of 1944 be adopted—namely, that before suspension is agreed to the "motion for suspension be referred to the Local Bills Committee for examination and report.

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