The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3767, 11 August 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1883.

There is too much legislation nowadays, noAV laws are created, and old ones are altered or swept away Avith a haste which is something alarming when we bear in mind the evil effects of many of our illworded Acts. Many reforms of a most beneficial character have been effected; but, on the other hand, the tendency seems to be to make siveeping changes, as a sort of test, and then to patch those changes up or do away with them when the law is proved to be unworkable or positively injurious. Then, again, while reforms are made there is not sufficient thought expended on the simplest ivay of carrying out the details of tho Act. If our legislators would learn wisdom by the experience of older countries, and especially watch the good or ill effects of enactments on largely populated countries, injustice on private individuals would not so frequently be worked. Take the RatingAct, 1876, which gives an arbitrary power of sale for non-payment of rates. We know of a case whero a valuable property was sold because tho sum of 17s 6d was over due. The owner of the property had paid rates, either to Road Boards or other bodies for years, and his conA'eyance %vas registered in the Deeds Office, so that the slightest trouble would havo enabled the Board to ascertain the owner's residence, and sent him a notice. AVell, the property was sold at auction in default of 17s 6d being paid on it, and it realised £102, not quite half what the owner valued it at, and the expenses amounted in the AA'hole to not less than £15. Now, mark the provisions of this wonderful Act. The balance, £81 odd, by the direction of the Act, was paid to the" Public Trustee on behalf of the owner, and very safely that functionary kept the money, for it seems he is not empowered to pay the balance except by an order of the Supreme Court. It is not enough for our legislators for the owner to produce his deeds and take his money, but ho has to move the Supreme Court by petition for an order enabling the Trustee to pay him the balance, thereby causing him further expense. Tho omissions in the Act are palpable —in tho first place an absolute power should not have been given to sell for such a paltry sum in arrear; then it should be incumbent at least that the Deeds Office for the district should be searched, and a notice sent to the address of the last owner; and, lastly, proper advertising should be resorted to, and no member of a Road Board or other local governing body should be alloived to purchase tho land. AYe are glad to sec that our Municipal Council effects such sales on a fair footing, and gives reasonable and proper notioe.