THE PIAKO COUNTY LOAN, AND THE TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1920, 25 October 1884, Page 3

THE PIAKO COUNTY LOAN, AND THE TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY.

It has now become evident to members of county councils and town districts, that according to tho law aodt present constituted, of an annually reclining rate, but the way iv it is next to impossible to inise a loan for geneial distiict pui poses. The law piovides that it may be tailed on the security which the law lcqmres that bUcli loans shall be raised is of a character virtually prohibitory. So much <=», indeed, that any attempt to raise a loan which has been made in this district by any of the local bodies has mvaiuibly leMilted in absolute failure, notwithstanding an almost unanimous poll by those concerned. The law lequiies that a \ote of two-thuds of tho entire votes excicisable in the county or town district, in which a poll is being taken, must be recoided in favour of the propobal before a loan can beiaised. The matter was brought forward at a recent meeting of the I'iako County Council and discussed. Mr Firth said he had wired to Mr J. B. Whyte on the matter, telling him that there seemed to be some doubt as to the intention or the Legislature in the mattci. Evidently the legislature had oiigmally intended to raise loan's, but that by a clause iv tho act of 1883, the oiignial law was so amended as to defeat the intention of the Legislature, as it practically tendered impossible the uiising of any special loan. He had told Mr Whyte that it appemed to him (Mr Firth), that if the word " e\oicisable " were altered to " exetcised " it would be all that was necessary to meet the case, and give satisfaction. Mr Whyte had replied to the effect that he had seen Mr Cadman whoso bill was now before the House, and had got him to introduce a clause to that effect, and thai c was very little doubt that the act would pass. Mr Chepinell said he approved of tho action of Mr Filth in the matter. It seemed to him that the restrictions which the Legislature was introducing year after year were becoming more and more prohibitory. The council having approved of Mr Fnth's view, it was unanimously agreed " That Mr Whyte be wired to, asking him to see that the word " exercisable " in section 23 of the Counties Act, Amendment Act, 1883, be alteied to "exercised," in Mr Cadman's Bill, now passing through the House to amend the Counties- Act.