CARELESS RATEPAYERS LOSE WATER LOAN

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6536, 17 February 1928, Page 6

CARELESS RATEPAYERS LOSE WATER LOAN

In connection with Wednesday’s poll for the Water Loan the neglect of a handful of ratepayers undoubtedly affected the result, which showed a majority of seven against the loan on the final figures. Of the 2-1 declaratory votes finally rejected by the returning officer, the bulk were in favour of the loan. Had thse people taken the trouble to see that their names were on the ratepayers’ roll, as they were repeatedly warned to, the result would undoubtedly resulted in the loan being carried. Kefcrring to declaratory votes, Mr. T. P. Martin, municipal solicitor, advises the town clerk as follows; Question I—Voting by Declaration: Does the voting by declaration apply only to those persons who have lodged claims for enrolment and their names have inadvertently been left off the roll? Answer—No. Question 2 —Can any person who has a qualification to be enrolled, but docs not take stops, vote by declaration? Answer—No. Question 3 —lf the returning officer personally knows that the person who voted by declaration possesses the necessary qualification, but has not claimed to bo enrolled, can such a voto be allowed? Answer —No. Question 4—ln the case of property changing hands, it often happens that months elapse between the. sale and the notice of change of ownership being received. If the new owner votes by declaration can his vote be allowed. The deputy’s electoral roll would contain the name of the former owner, and he may have voted. Answer—No. Generally—Voting by declaration can only legally be done whore the following conditions exist:— (a) Tiro voter must have had the necessary qualification: (b) The town clerk must have had knowledge himself, or by his assistants of the existence of the qualification; and, (e) The voter’s name must have been omitted from the roll by inadvertence. In questions 2,3, and 4 above, no ease of inadvertence arises. Mayoral Comment. Interviewed by a "Times” representative yesterday, His Worship the Mayor stated that the decision recorded by the ratepayers would be adhered to. The sewerage extension is to bo commenced as soon as the financial arrange ments are complete.