DISFRANCHISING OF HUTT ELECTORS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5747, 30 August 1879, Page 3

DISFRANCHISING OF HUTT ELECTORS.

The following letter from Mr. Thomas Mason, Chairman of the Hutt County Council, and one of the candidates for the representibn of the Hutt District in Parliament, appears in the Evening Chronicle oi yesterday:— “ Sir, —In your leading article of Thursday’s issue it is stated that ‘it was the duty of Mr. Mason, as Chairman of the Hutt County Council, to have sent in the Hutt roll of ratepayers to the proper quarter oo the Slat January, so that the names of all ratepayers not already on it could be placed on the electoral roll. Mr. Mason deliberately neglected to perform this duty, and the roll was not sent in to the registrar’s office, the result being the disfranchisement of a large body of the electors. Mr. Mason cannot plead forgetfulness or accident as an excuse for this gross neglect of duty. He was reminded at the time that such a roll had to be sent in to the registrar’s, but objected ou the miserable pretext that the preparation would cost two guineas.’ “ The first part is inaccurate. The Hutt County Council has no rate-book, no rate having been levied. The rate-books within the limits of the county are those of the several highway and local boards. Copies of the ratebooks of the Hutt Local Board, and of the Karori-Makara Highway Board, were sent in to the registrar, and refused by the revising officer as informal. If, therefore, copies of the rate-books of the Wellington District Highway Board (which comprises the remainder of the Hutt electoral district) had been sent in they must have shared the same fate, as the same informality existed in them.

“ The statement that I ‘ was reminded that such a roll had to be sent, but objected on the miserable pretext that such a roll would cost two guineas,* is altogether false. There is not one word of truth in it. Until within the last month I did not know that copies of the rate books were required by the registrar. “ The County Council works under the Counties Act, and the Highway Board under the Wellington Highways Act (Provincial), in neither of which is any instruction given to furnish copies of the rolls. It was, I consider, the duty of the Government to send copies of the Act requiring such copies of the rate books to the several local bodies ; and it is, I think, clear that the fault lies with the registrar, who should have given notice ; or perhaps with the Colonial Secretary’s Office, which should have sent a circular to the several counties and highway and local boards, informing them that copies of the rate books were required for electoral purposes. “ I most emphatically deny receiving any intimation whatever, either privately or in my public capacity as chairman of the Hutt County Council, or as chairman of the Wellington Highway Board. Had any such been given, the gentleman who acts as clerk to both bodies would have furnished the copies required without any extra charge, it being part of his duties, and neither two guineas nor any other expense would have been incurred."