Some Suggestions.

Northland Age, 21 November 1905, Page 3

Some Suggestions.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Although the County election might have turned out far better by having all new members, it must be looked on as generally satisfactory, two-thirdß being new men, so that we may look forward to the Council getting out of the old groove and raising its name to one of public-spirited honesty and probity. To bring about Buch a desirable state of things I would ► earnestly suggest for the consideration of new members the necessity for using the greatest possible care in the selection of a Chairman, especially as I understand the present Clerk intends to resign. If any but a thoroughly reliable man had held that position during the last three years there is no saying what the present position of members and ratepayers would be. Fortunately amongst the four new men (one of whom was only on a short time) there are at least two fully capable of being Chaiman, having a fair amount of ability and likely to take a public view of things. So far as I am aware neither could be said to have any E articular axe to grind. One might not ave sufficient time to go round the County roads as often as required, but the other has, and as it would be to the interests of his employers to have all roads in good order he would I feel sure take a pleasure in doing what others might look on as an onerous duty to be dodged if possible. He has considerable experience as Chairman of local bodies, and I believe would be well suited for the position and take a genuine interest in his work. So that there will be no excuse for making an unpardonable, dangerous, and injurious mistake. I find I have let my pen run away from what I sat down to write about, which was really to make an appeal to the new Council to put the position of Returning Officers in ship shape. The r Returning Officer at the late election was the Clerk of the County Council. The ridings only had deputies, which is certainly contrary to the Local Elections Act 1904. Every riding of a County is a separate district, plainly shown by having separate accounts. Section 4 says “ In every district there shall be a Returning Officer,” obviously resident in the district. The schedules indicate this unmistakably. They all refer to the district—not to the County at large. Even the candidate must, be nominated by electors of such district (riding). Sub-section 3 of Section 5 bars any member of a local body acting as Returning Officer and certainly implies Clerk and Treasurer, particularly for the Mangonui County, as during the last three years he has been put down as the whole of the Council by nine-tenths of the ratepayers, and had to carry all their sins of omission and commission on his shoulders. I’m afraid it’s going to turn him into a “Will o’ the wisp.” Common sense should show that all the Clerk has to do with an election is to supply rolls, etc., with a precis of duties. Each riding had its own member formerly, and it’s a mystery why it was changed. Had there been one at Herekino this time the unfortunate mistake which occurred would probably l have been rectified in time and allowed the electors to make a choice saving all disappointment. Might I suggest the ' following motto for the new Council: **Fiat justitia, mat caelum (“Let justice be done though the heavens should fall.”) ?—Your obedient servant PAT.