CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8103, 5 October 1904, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

TOWN DISTU^O^ FRANCHISE.

(To the Editor,)

Si?,— Mr l\, St Thompson, in a recent issue of the Star, drew attention to the practice of roll-stuffing existing in the Normanby town district, and he deserves, the thanks of all right-thinking persons. Tho same practice V* ut force here, but apparently \n not «q acute a form. There nro peieoni on the roll who never occupied the land they are assessed for as occupiers, having been placed on the roll by application of relations or other interested parties, and how any one can truthfully declare when making the application that a transaction has taken place, and that the party will actually occupy tho land, passes comprehension, all for die punmie: of controlling more votes and wterftiSm with the rights of the legal orauwts or ownors occupying. AjwJTF few kwwm ratepayers *]«P<es *o \wfaA Wtet on this quahfivattaA. A feature in thia roll-stuf-fin 4 »i that there seoma no possibility whatever of checking or putting a stop to the practice, as there is nothing to compel an owner from allowing a person's name remaining on the roll as qccudM* even although the application way. have been bona fide at one. «»♦/* 6 V*l« time there w.m poft«* fo remove Q «mes or . t0 .5&H > Ujpoft »W QCWPW* to ihow cause why few of htr name ihould not be remo/jm Wllh regard to the recent Town Board election, which apparently turned much upon the question, the action of the marf* ity of the late Board ryeta o) V^w legality of p^iftoi* t«ke*, Tor by recRL ** ttt ***?» »»*«» of Legislative rvS Pl°«wding« upon the County Act Amendment, Hon. W; C. amtth moved a new clause giving a Coun. cil power to authorise a Town Bom£l* U "tf ll^ J, V™W Pbwer exiited, or