Reform of Local Bodies.

Patea Mail, 5 June 1882, Page 3

Reform of Local Bodies.

(F BO M OU B COBBBBPONDEHI.)

The Hawera County Council has agreed to send the following answers to questions in the Government circular : I. Should County Chairmen be elected as Mayors are ? —Answer, No. ,2. Should Counties be enabled to. spli* up or amalgamate, or otherwise alter their

boundaries, without the consent of Parliament, as is now required ?—Yes ;as at present by petition ; but without consent of Parliament being required.

3. Should the road districts in each county form the ridings of the county ? Yes.

4. Would you suggest any alteration in the mode of electing the Councillors ? Yes ; That County Councils, if appointed, should be elected from the Road Board members by the ratepayers of each riding. 5. Can you suggest any new duties which should be imposed, or new powers which should be conferred, on Counties) more especially as to power of making bye-laws ?—Yes ;to be able to regulate weight of loads and widths of tyres on vehicles. Also ;to be able to license carriers and take fees from them. 6. Should the Counties be enabled to create new rpad | districts or alter existing ones of their own motion, or only on the petition of a majority of the ratepayers ? —Only on the petition of the majority of ratepayers. 7. Should the Counties or the Road Boards have the power ef altering the divisions and the numbers of the members of Road Boards ?—Road Boards should have the power of dividing their districts into wards. '

8. What rating powers should Counties have ?—Double rating where there is no Road Board.

9. What rating powers should Road Boards have ?—Double rating where there is no County Council. 10. If the operation of the Counties Act is suspended in any County, should Road Boards be enabled to exercise any of the powers of the County, and, if so, which ? -Yes, all.

. 11. Should Road Board Members hold office for a fixed time, and, if so, what, or should a proportion retire every year ? To bo elected for three years, and onethird retire annually.

, 'l2. Should Road Board Chairmen be elected as Mayors are ?—No.

13. Is it desirable to allow of Road Board elections being held in open public meeting, like those of School Committees, n districts where the Road Board, by special order, adopts this "plan ?—No. 14. What alterations do you suggest in the Rating Bill as sketched in the circular enclosed herewith ?—That Crown and native lands should be rated on a fair valuation, leaving a due proportion to the value of adjoining freeholds. 15. Please state whether the provisions of the Roads Construction and Crown and Native Lands Rating Bills would suit your district, and, if not, what alterations would you suggest which would make these measures more useful ?—That the Government form, bridge, and gravel all roads required to open up lands to be solder leased by the Crown. 16. Have you any suggestions to make generally on the matters dealt with in the circular in which this is enclosed?— That only one body, either Road Board or County Council, is required to undertake the executive duties on roads.