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Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 371, 2 July 1877, Page 2

Yeky considerable confusion seems to have been created in certain quarters in consequence of the inextricable labyrinth of Acts that were ushered into existence during last session. What with Provincial Ordinances and Acts, and Amendment Acts, and Regulations, a numerous assemblage of those proverbially astute limbs of the law—Philadelphia lawyers—could not possibly decide, in some instances, how this concatenation of legal instruments should be applied. It has come under our notice that certain Eoad Boards are put to their wits' ends. They are undecided as to which Act is supposed to control their elections. So far as we can glean, the matter stands thus : Elections should take place in the maimer prescribed by the' 'Eoad Boards Ordinance, 1872," and not under the " Regulations of Local Elections Act. 1876." In point of fact, the latter Act is permissive, and does not come into operation in the case of any elective body except by proclamation of the Governor, based upon a petition from two-thirds of such body. It appears that the meaning of the " Regulation of Local Elections Act " has been misunderstood, and that it has sometimes been used as a sole instrument for the purpose of conducting elections, instead of, as its name would imply, as an auxiliary. The dissimilarity between the two Acts is however so slight that we incline to the opinion that an election conducted un- ■]• v the " Regulation of Local Elections Ad," could not be rendered null and void except by a tedious process at law.