LOCAL OPTION POLLS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2901, 17 February 1891, Page 2

LOCAL OPTION POLLS.

TO THK KIHTOII. Sth,— A correspondent in your issue of today questions the legality of the appointment of the presiding oiticers for taking the Local Option Toll for tho Borough of Hamilton and Waipa County. ]5y reading the Licensing Act of 1881 and the Triennial Licensing Act of 18811 it would appear that the contention of your correspondent waa correct, lint Clause ].' of the Licensing Act AinuudiiiL-nt Act ISS2, had amended Clause IS of tho Act of ISSI as follows:-

"The Presiding Ofiicer at any poll of ratepayers to he taken under the said Act (1SS1) shall be appointed by the Local Body, etc., «tc, and not by the chairman us is provided in the forty-eighth section of tin) s.-iiei Ac!"." This section you will perceive does away with the word "chairman" in Section IS, Act ISSI. Ami yet our lawmakers in their wisdom sunk to amend by an Act passed in ISS'J a portion of a clause already amended in IHB2 by tlie exclusion of the word "chairman." In the face of thes3 little eccentricities 1 think it best to abide by Clause Il> of the Act of IS.SL , , which lias certainly not been repeated as far as i can see by any subsequent Act, certainly no!, by t ho Triennial Licensing Act of lK'i'.l.-.-Yours truly. Lux. Cambridge, l.'obrunry llth, IS'JI. I'll rilK KIiITOK. Siii,---N"ti<:iru,' in today's issue of 'I'm; W.Uk.vto Timks, LhriL some one has referred to tho Wai pa County Council, appointing !t '" Presiding oiliccr' , for the Local < 'ption Poll, will you allow me f,ir tin; purpose of allaying any uneasiness on that head, to state that the Council appointed a " Return in-Officer," not u " Pru>iiiiiiß (JlHeor ' which makes all the ditlcreiice. at least tint is limv I undeistood it, and I liavi' very little doubt that in dm: time the "I'lVM'linp; Officer" will be appointed in a perfectly formal manner.—! am, yours etc.,

"snWiin was Thkhk Ohanpii, l-ebniary Hth., ls<j].