MT. ROSKILL POLL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1938, Page 14

MT. ROSKILL POLL.

RATEPAYERS AND THE ROLL BOARD'S POSITION STATED. Replying to correspondents who have written to the "Auckland Star" and to ihe sub-editorial which appeared in this Daper upon the disfranchisement of a lumber of ratepayers through non-pay-ment of the quarterly water rate, the rhairman of the board, Mr. C. M. McCullough, in an interview, expressed he view that the comment in the subeader was made without the local body e josition being fully considered. There vas rightly no suggestion in the article ;hat the Road Board had in any way >verstepped its legal powers, or that the ilection had been carried out other than itrictly to statutory requirements. "The Road Board legislation definitely ays down what is required of a raterayer before he is capable of exercising lis electoral rights," said Mr. McCullough, 'and both the news columns and the idvertisement columns of the daily Press iad been used in the effort to make cnown as widely as possible the necessity for all rates, including water rates, :o be paid to enable the franchise to be exercised. This information had been noted by numerous ratepayers, and over 330 persons had met the requirement in the fortnight before the election. "The suggestion that some 45 per cent of the ratepayers were disfranchised on account of non-payment of water rates was incorrect; the deletions from the roll included not only those owing water rates, but municipal rates as well, while all recent changes in ownership of property obviously entailed deletions. The rolls for use at the election were prepared 10 days beforehand to meet the needs of the Harbour Board and Hospital Board polls, and ratepayers who subsequently met their dues were furnished with a special authority form enalbling them to vote by declaration, the only possible method, once the roll had been closed. Payment eould be made even on the day of the poll and providing a ratepayer was prepared to meet his municipal responsibilities there could be no question of disfranchisement. The criticism of the board's method of collecting its water rates had no bearing on the question oi franchise, being purely a domestic mattei and designed for the benefit of its ratepayers. Its satisfactory operation ov.ei a long period of years, during which charges had been reduced and close) control over consumption secured, is con sidered sufficient evidence as to the suit ability of the system. The responsibilitj of ensuring his electoral rights must ii every instance devolve- upon the rate payer-in the road district, just as th« acquisition of electoral rights in anj borough entail certain actions on th< part of an oeeupier or a resident."