THE LATE MASTERTON ELECTION OF TRUSTEES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 139, 21 April 1879, Page 2

THE LATE MASTERTON ELECTION OF TRUSTEES.

To the Editor of the WMitmrA daii/i,

. Sir,—As an elector I feel greatly surprised at the result of our late election of Trustees for the management of our Town Lands,

The lucid and able report of the Trust, as read by Mr Feist, at the last public meeting, showed he had a thorough know? ledge of the dut/ of a trustee, and was in the opinion of the meeting, considered a most eligible man for re-election. But I regret that our hopes in this direction have been disappointed. I also feel disappointed at the position in which Mr Renall was placed at the poll, for there is no man in the township who has a better knowledge of our Trust Lands, or who can give better assistance in their management than he. The 20th clause of the Act of Management of 1871, directs that the chairman of the meeting shall appoint the necessary poll clerics, and prepare the poll-book, in which book shall be inserted the situation of the premises in which each voter resides and for who he votes.

I doubt very much if the law, as here propounded, has been complied with, by inserting in the poll-book the situation of the premises in which each voter resided or the day of election.

I noticed a man very busy indeed in brining to the booth, from the highways and byways, men who neither own or lease any portion of the Lands, in the town and township, but who, under the Act are, I suppose, considered qualified voters as residents no matter for how short a period; the result is that a fit and efficient man for the office of Trustee has been rejected, and the bona fide settler's vote swamped, by the vote of a floating population, In order thereforo to secure at our future elections, men of ability tion, for the management of our Trust Lands, steps should be taken before the next meeting of Parliament to have a meeting to consider the most objectionable parts of the Act of 1871, so that the ratepayers within the Borough and suburban sections of the township will only have the power of electing future Trustees, I think it would also be desirable that the system of open voting was discontinued, and the provisions of the Local Election Act, of 1870, brought into force, I believe the Masterton Highway Board is now the only ratepaying local body, that adheres to the old system of open voting which, no doubt, is very objectionable, lam, &c,, Elector,