C—16.

7

must in time be considered, and the roads formed and put in order. The purchase of the Crown's interest in these suburban blocks which have been subdivided by the Crown tenants will enable a proper dedication to be made, and the town will be benefited by the improvement of these roads and streets, which will then fall under the control of the local authority. Under the Rotorua Town Act now in operation no provision is made for imposing a rate upon the property-holders. We consider that the present Act is unsatisfactory in its operation as regards the maintenance of works in the town. Holding the view that the inhabitants should contribute to its maintenance, we also consider that they should have a voice in the spending of the money so raised. We do not favour the creation of a municipality at the present time, on account of the large contributions made by the State to town funds. We consider that the Crown should share in the management of the affairs of the town. This we think could be secured by repealing the present Act under which Rotorua is managed, and re-enacting the provisions of the Rotorua Town Council Act, 1900, with the alterations and amendments hereunder stated. We suggest an alteration in the constitution of the Council provided for in the Act of 1900 by giving the public four members and the Crown three, in consideration of the amount which will have in the future to be found by the property-holders Considering the large interest held by the State at Rotorua and the benefit to the State of the money which will be spent in the maintenance and improvement of the town by the inhabitants, part of the sum required should still be supplied by the Crown in the shape of half the bath fees as'at present, and so long as the present rents are being paid those rents should, as formerly, be paid to the town fund. The following are the alterations and amendments we suggest should be made in the provisions of the repealed Rotorua Town Council Act, 1900, if it is re-enacted so as to meet the present day conditions, viz. : — Preamble : Alter to suit present circumstances. Title : Alter year; otherwise as at present. Clause 2 : Necessary alterations with regard to the body (i.e., substitution of the name of the present Board for the old one). Clause 4 : Council to consist of seven members, of whom the Resident Officer shall be ex officio a member and Chairman; two members to be nominated by the Crown, and four members to be elected by the ratepayers. Clause 5 : (i) and (ii)—Alter " Clerk of the Town Board " to " Resident Officer." (iii) —Remain as it is. Clause 6 : Substitute " four members " for " three members." Clause 7 : Leave date open—" On such date as shall be fixed by the Governor." Clause 8 : Substitute " Regulations " for " Local Elections Act." Clause 9 : (i)—Remain as it is. (ii) —Vacancy caused through resignation, &e, of an elected member to be filled by election by ratepayers instead of by appointment by Governor. Clause 10 : Follow Rotorua Town Act, 1907, as regards this clause, except that power to borrow money by way of special loan shall be limited as to security to special rates payable by the ratepayers. Clause 11 : Remain as it is. Clause 12: (i)—Delete, (ii)—Alter : "Until the waterworks are vested in some local authority the Crown shall have," &c. Clause 13 : (T) and (iii^ —Remain as they are. (ii)—" So long as Crown leases exist in the district." Clause 14 : Revise dates of the various Acts quoted. Clause 15 : Remain as it is. Clause 16 : Remain as it is. Clause 17 : Delete. Add section 5 of Rotorua Town Act, 1907, but substituting " Council " where necessary.