THE DRAINAGE QUESTION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 189, 24 April 1914, Page 3

THE DRAINAGE QUESTION.

i And Ratepayers' Association. At Wednesday nigt'a meeting of the Bcrough Council the following letter, signed by the Preai-ent of the Pukekohe Ratepayer*' Association, WEsreid:— "I am in receipt of yours of the 14th iiißt, in which you sav that the objection put in by my Association did not deal with the valuation roll, but only with the proposed area, etc., matters upon which there is no provision in the Act for an enquiry by a Magistrate. In reply, I rcf pcctt'ully suggest that ytu aie vtry much wrong, and it appears your Council have not made thtmselvts acquuinted wi:h tha conditions affecting special loans. The regulations governing the question rejd ai follows: 'Any ratepayer who objects to any rnstter or thing contained in the said roll, and who desires that such objection shall be ha&rd or considered shall forward in writing to the local authority, etc. The local authority shall cause to be prepared a list of all objections, if any. Such list or a certificated c r py together with the said roll shall be submitted to the stipendiary magistrate for the district, who shall deal with the same and certify accordingly.' From .the foregoing you will see that your Council are somewhat in the dark, and are acting contrary to the law. A Council or any local body has r.o power t) interfere with a special roll after being advertised and an objaction being lodged it must go before the Magistrate, and I would suggest that your Council follow the ccurae laid down by Government regulation. My Association is prepared to abide by the decision of the magistrate." The clerk pointed out that in section "the local authority ehall cause to be prepared a list of all cbjpctiois (if any)," the words "to the roll" bad been omitted. The Mayor: Have any actual objections to the roll been received? The clerk: No. It was decided to refer the matter to the botough solicitors.