ANOTHER ROAD BOARD MUDDLE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 366, 8 May 1889, Page 5

ANOTHER ROAD BOARD MUDDLE.

Another example of administrative bung, ling , has occurred in connection with the elections of Road Boards. ' The Road Boards Act requires that the annual elections shall take place during the first week in May, and on the same day this year as in 1886. .But it also' provides that the elections shall take place on the new rolls, which are to be supplied by the "Property Tax Department. These rolls not being yeb prepared, the Chairman of the Wade Board addressed a telegram to the Property Tax Commissioner, asking what roll the Road Board elections were to be held upon, and received the following i*eply :—: — Wellington, 24th April, 1880. Mr Jack, Wado : Ratepayers' roll must be compiled fiom new assessment. It will bo necessary to extend time by Order-in-Council for delivery of the new roll to local bodies, as they cannot be supplied until after sitting of the roviewors. You should apply jto Colonial Secretary for extension of time for doing anything that has to be delayed in consequence ot non-delivery of rolls. — (Signed) J. Sperkey, Commissioner. -Now some of the elections have already taken placeon the old rolls, whicharetheonly onesin existence, and other meetings, in order to comply with the law, are advertised for the ensuing week. Mr Thomas Seaman, a 8 Secretary of several boards that are affected, therefore sent the Commissioner the following telegram :- To ohe Property Tax Commissioner. Re the Road Board Elections. Your telegram to Andrew Jack has been published as a " Warning to Road Boards." In compliance with the Road Board Act, Section 31, the elections are taking place on the same day in the first week of May as in 1886, and most of them have been already decided by nominees without any contest. All others are advertised for Saturday morning or Tuesday next. Will these elections not be legal ? If not, can they not be validated by the Government by order-in-Council ?—? — Thomas Seaman. In leply, Mr Seaman received the following :-— Your telegram of the 2nd asks legal questions to which I cannot undertake to reply. — J. Sperrey, Commissioner. From this it appears that the Commissioner having thrown an apple of discord among the local Boards by expressing on c legal opinion will not help them out of their troubles by offering another. Under these circumstances Mr Seaman thought he would try the Attorney - General. Sir Frederick Whitaker, however, on being approached, was wary. The matter, he said, was not in his department. Mr Seaman must apply to the Colonial Secretary, which he has accordingly done. While the question is thus left in this unsatisfactory state, without making any pretence to legal lore, we would unhesitatingly advise Boards to go on with their elections as required by law on the rolls that are available, leaving the Government to rectify any irregularity by Order in-Council or Act, if such a process should hereafter be found necessary. — " Auckland Star," May 3.