A.—lo

40

money, the Board trusts the Government will act up to their proposal. Ruataniwha North —Would like to see legislation on the subject dealt with carried through the House this session. Tamumu — That a power of appeal should be given from the decision of the Judges of the Assessment Court as at present constituted; and that, if public valuators are not appointed, the Road Board Districts to appoint their own valuers as at present. Woodville—We would suggest that the Chairmen of Road Boards be members of County Councils, thus preventing the clash which takes place in the dual system. We would suggest also that the County Councils should take the place of the Waste Lands Boards, as the members of the Council would bring a greater knowledge of the requirements and capabilities of their several districts to bear on this question. We should like to see all reserves for gravel or other road purposes Tested in the local body of the district in which they are situated. Taranalci —No answer. Manganui—^Counties to be compelled to employ a Clerk, who should be one of the Auditors of Road Board accounts, —ratepayers to elect one at general annual meeting; also a qualified Engineer, who should superintend all works in the county whether carried out under the County Council or Rofid Boards: the salaries of these officers to be paid by County Council. Each Road Board to pay 5 per cent, of their funds for such offices. All work above the value of £5 to be done by contract. One uniform system of accounts to be kept by all counties and Road Boards. The forms to be used to be fixed by the Governor in Council. Members of Rond Boards to receive no payment for attendance, and not to hold any contract under riding. Any member of Road Board performing the clerical work of the Board to be allowed a sum to be fixed by County Council, but not to exceed 10s. per cent, of rates, to be paid by Road Board. Members of County Council living over five miles from county office to receive 3s. 6d. per day and 6d. per mile one way, but not to exceed 255. per day. Upon death, or absence of Chairman from Road Board or county meetings two or three times without leave, the Road Board to elect another Chairman from amongst themselves, to act until first general meeting of ratepayers. Upon death, &c, of a Road Board member the members of such Road Board to elect another ratepayer to act until general meeting of ratepayers. Upon first general meeting of ratepayers a vote of the ratepayers in the county could be taken as to whether County Council should meet or not. Should the vote be adverse to a County Council, then some provision should be made to compel the Road Boards to appoint one general Auditor and an Engineer, the appointments to lav with the Chairmen of Road Boards. I know that Road Boards keep their accounts very badly, and also that all over the country districts sums of money are spent upon works which

Question 16— continued.

are badly carried out for want of proper supervision. If the local bodies are to be compelled to use the valuation roll as prepared by the Government, then each county or Road Boards of a county should be allowed to appoint one if not two members of the Boards of Reviewers, and the mode of appealing against the valuation should be made as easy as possible to all ratepayers in any part of the county, i.e., that the Court should, if necessary, sit in each riding. Mangarei — There is a very strong feeling in this district against the system of having toll-bars on public roads, on the ground that it is an expensive and inconvenient method of taxation. Carrington—(l.) Abolish toll-gateß. (2.) Main roads go back into Road Boards. (3.) County Councils only to take over bridges, &c, with a chain of road on either side, and to always have a reserve fund in case of bridge collapsing. (4.) Hospital charges to be made a separate rate. (5.) Quite unnecessary such an amount of advertising. (6.) County Council to be obliged to keep Engineer ov Surveyor. Waitara West —The foregoing resolutions are based on the supposition that no radical change will take place in the present form of local government. We would suggest that a very great difficulty will exist in the making and maintaining of a main line of road, especially through poor counties. The General Government will always be called upon to contribute funds both for the making and maintaining those portions of the main lines running through poor districts. We are therefore of opinion that the only way in which the arterial lines of communication throughout New Zealand can be constructed with economy is out of the general revenue. Good roads will extend settlements and create local industries, which will create more revenue. If that plan was adopted the Road Boards would be left free to keep the by-roads open. That the system of rating be optional with ratepayers, whether to adopt the acreage or valuation. Egmont^-Xhe meeting is anxious to be separated from county control; to have an acreage rate for district road purposes, but does not object to valuation rate for property-tax. The district wishes local management to be as economical as possible, so that as much of the rates collected may be spent improving the roads. I have given the opinion of the ratepayers at a public special meeting, held on the 26th May, 188-. Moa —From what we know of the working-system of County Councils they are very costly, and we are strongly of opinion that the several Road Boards cannot be dispensed with, but could manage the several county roads at a much less cost to the ratepayers if they had the power. Okato —No answer. Clifton —We consider that the fact of two rating powers being in the same district is objectionable, and would like to see a workable Act amalgamating counties and Road Boards. Waitara East —County Councils are unnecessary. Valuation should be

only once in three years. Valuation should be made locally by the road districts, as valuators appointed by Government are appointed without reference to qualification, and when appointed make use of the Road Board valuations, and are paid more for merely copying valuations than the Road Boards pay for a first value. Likewise, were it not for Road Board valuations, the valuers would completely lose sight of numbers in a road district, where property is continually changing. Therefore, local bodies could do the work cheaper, as there is no question as to their knowing more about the value of property and change of owners than a Government valuer. Road Boards could supply a copy of their valuations to the PropertyTax Commissioner. We want a Road Board Act and no County Council Act, and the Act should simply and clearly show who should pay the rate, whether owner or occupier ; and where rate has not been paid the land should be liable, No part of the Act should be of so vague a meaning as to necessitate the advice of two or three solicitors and a Resident Magistrate as to what the meaning is. For when solicitors are engaged to draw an Act it is drawn in such a manner as to be unintelligible to other solicitors even; and how can simple road districts interpret when lawyers disagree ? Inglewood —This Board is in favour of passing the Ronds Construction Bill and the Crown and JSative Lands Rating Bill. Pate a —That subsidies for the future be distributed in a larger ratio to the requirements of the poorer or less advanced districts, and not, as now, according to the rating, whereby the populous and richer districts receive more than equitable share. That section 115, " Counties Act, 1876," be amended by the addition of the words "or being incorrectly rated," after "poverty." Hawera —No answer. t Hawera —That the proposals in circular are generally good. Would suggest that proper destination of different licenses, such as publicans', auctioneers', and other fees, should be defined in all Bills relating to local bodies. Waimate —That only one working body, either Road Board or County Council, was required. Ngaire—That only one body, either Road Board or County Council, is required to undertake the executive duties on roads. IVanganui —That the dual system of local government — Road Boards and counties —is, in the opinion of this Council, unfitted to the wants of the colony. Waitot ai a —We are of opinion that the work of the County Councils could be done with increased economy and advantage by the Road Boards, but we do not consider that it would benefit our district to merge the Road Board into the County Council. Sangitikei —No answer. Rangitikei—No answer. Lethbridge —No answer. Manawatu —No others. Manawatu —(1.) That facilities be afforded the ratepayers for abolishing counties in cases where they wish to do so, as, for instance, we are of