THE BOUNDARIES OF RIDINGS

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 218, 13 September 1878, Page 6

THE BOUNDARIES OF RIDINGS

Deputation to the Ahtorney-General. A deputation consisting of four members of the .Clutha County Council — Councillors Mackenzie, Waipahi Riding ; Scobie and Scott, Clinton Riding ; and Roberts, Brugli Riding ; and Messrs D. M'Donald and W. H. S. Roberts, delegates from the Clinton and Waipahi Progress Committees — waited on the Hon. the Attorney-General at his office in Dunedin on Saturday, the 7th inst., in reference to the recent alterations in the boundaries of the Ridings in the Olntha County. The deputation was kindly introduced by Mr Thomson, M.H.R. for the Clutha, who in a few well chosen words explained the object of the deputation. Captain Mackenzie stated the case, and pointed out that the voters' rolls having been made out for the year for the original Ridings and passed could not now be altered ; that not only would new rolls to suit the proposed alterations be required, but also a fresh valuation, because many properties had been divided by the new boundaries ; also 3 that the special meeting on the 31st May, at which the resolution complained against was passed, was not called in accordance with the provisions of the Statutes, and that the deputation was of opinion that the whole of the proceedings founded upon what took place at that meeting were null ; that the deputation desired that the boundaries should remain as they originally were till after the general election in November. Mr Scobie endorsed what his colleague had said, and asked what the position of the Ridings would be if the Government now refused to give power to make new I rolls as requested by the Council. The action taken would have the effect of disfranchising many of the electors, more particularly those of Brugh, who would not then bo enabled^ to return a representative at the next general election of members. In course of the conversation which ensued the inference drawn was that no act of the Council could create such an injustice without provision being made for the alterations proposed; therefore the constitution of the Ridings would remain as if no action, had been taken by the Council, and the elections in November must take place in accordance with the existing rolls, a3 otherwise any election would be invalid. A carefully prepared statement with certified extracts from the minutes of the County Council meetings and other documents embodying the facts of the case, were handod to the Attorney-General, who, having glanced over them, told the deputation that ho would peruse them. He said that the Government , had no power to restrain the County Council as long as they acted in accordance with the Statute, but that any ratepayer or elector had the power to institute a Buit in the Courts to call the Council to book and compel them to act in accordance with the Statute. The Government did not wish to interfere with the Counties, but intended to allow them to work out their own destinies, and would advise the deputation to ask the Council to rescind the resolution altering the boundaries, who would most likely do so when they saw how distasteful they were to the bulk of the residents. The Attorney-General then telegraphed to the Colonial Secretary to stay all action in this matter until his return to Wellington. Mr Scobie here drew the attention of the Attorney-General to a tabulated statement showing that the ratepayers objecting to the action of the Council represent a valuation of over L 40,000 out of a total of L 56,000 for the County. A telegram sent by the Chairman of the County Council to the Under-Secretary was also handed in, which stated that the resolution to alter the Ridings was carried by a vote of five to four. This the deputation explained was misleading, as it was only carried by the casting vote of the Chairman in the absence of the member for Waipahi, who was strongly opposed to io. The deputation having thanked the Attorney-General with drew.