THE HAMILTON WEST BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 791, 12 July 1877, Page 2

THE HAMILTON WEST BOARD.

Sir, — 1 am one of those not simply dissatisfied bun considerably disgusted with the action of the present Hamilton West Town Board, which seems to be the mouthpiece and organ of a single individual, ard I should like to ask tnat body as they most assuredly wili, and in no gentle ternis,be asked on the 30th instant, why they have takea uo steps to briug the regulation of Local .Elections Act 1876 into operation in their diaciiot. Tne matter is nut even mentioned among the subjects to be discussed at ihe public meeting, to be held immediately atter Clip anuual meeting. But, sir, 1 maintain they should have done more than this. They should have called a meeting at once, and have ascertained tiie feeling of the ratepayers ou tne desirability or otherwise of bringing tha Act into uper* ation so that tiie forthcoming election inigut take place, if it so wished by the ratepayers, in accordance wifcu its pro* visions. There has been plenty of time to get the Act brought into operation, had they chosen to do so. Ic is high time a change were made, aad that the voting for our Highway Trustees were conducted as in the case of County Councillors instead of as now, by open voting, where the candidates knuw how every man votes, and briug pressure to bear upon him, aud where a tradesman often dare not do other than vote tor this or that main, for if ho did not lie -would stand no chauce of getting a contract afterwards for Board work. It is time the mtepayara had some proteotion from class domination, and their popular leaders at tne coining annual weetiog wilt do well to eschew ail mealy mouthau acquieseuce with tue cut aud dried plan ot operations prepared by those who have already goo tue bib in the mouths of so many of the ratepayers and ply both spur and whip bo unmercifully upon them. — 1 am, &c., Hxvoi in the mud. « -..