A.—loa
10
Road Board elections held in open public meeting. Vincent —No answer. Lake —Cannot give opinion. Peninsula — Portobello—lt is not desirable to have the Road Board elections held in open public meeting.
Question 13— continued.
Taieri — Seaside —No ; the present mode works well. Taieri —Road Board elections should not be held in public, but in terms of the present Act.
Bruce — Kaitangata — Road Board elections should not be held in public, but in accordance with the regulations of Local Elections Act. Cluiha — Clutha—No.
14. What alterations do you suggest in the .Rating Bill as sketched in a circular enclosed herewith ?
Mongonui — Whangaroa North—Approve of Rating Bill as sketched. Oruaitl —No answer. Mongonui—No answer. Hay of Islands —That this county should have its own Valuator. Whangarei — Kaurihohori —The Bill as sketched is a good one. Mangapai—l would approve of the suggestions made in the Bill. Maungakaramea—No answer. Ruatangata—Rating Bill as sketched seems good. It ought to enable Road Boards to obtain judgment against defaulters for all arrears of rates in as simple and inexpensive a manner as possible. Waipu North —I highly approve of the Rating.Bill, although nothing but special grants will do to make roads passable in this district. Whangarei—The Bill as sketched is a good one. Hobson —The Bill as sketched in the circular seems to meet the requirements of this county. Rodney — Albertland North —None. The proposals are good. Ivotnokoriki —No answer. Matakana East —No answer. Waitemata — Devonport—Think the plan sketched out is a very good one. Devonport (W. H. Eenton) —None. Am thoroughly satisfied with plan as sketched in circular. Pukeatua —No answer. Waitakerei East —No answer. Eden —The property-tax valuation might be adopted. Mode of valuing be as at present. There is no occasion for the Government either buying or selling, or that an owner should be asked to sell. It is desirable that the Government bear the greater part of the cost of construction of main roads connecting centres of population. Manukau — Awhitu —No answer. Pokeno —None. Waipipi (A. Muir, jun.)—Not any. Waikato — Cambridge — The Rating Bill as sketched is an improvement on previous legislation, particularly as regards valuation and the payment by the Public Trustee of rates due on the property of defaulters or absentees. TVaipa — That the valuation for Road Boards be the same, but the Valuer be not appointed by the Government, but by the County Council; and that a column be inserted in the form of rate-book, for bringing up arrears, as a check on collectors. Mangapiko—Approve of one valuation for the property-tax and local purposes; the County Council and not the Government appointing the Valuers. Ngaruawahia Town — Ratepayers should have power to strike rate
at annual meeting. All land occupied for public works and other public purposes to be rated. Pukekura —If the property-tax valuation is to be the basis of the Road Board valuation, the appointment of Valuer for property-tax shouli be by the county and not by any Government official. Unimproved lands held for speculation to pay double rates. Raglan — Newcastle—None. Whakatane — Opotiki—That all lands should be rated according to value, irrespective of ownership. Tauranga —Present alterations, such as— (1) dealing with property absentees; (2) unimproved lands to be valued in proportions to the improved, and not give a premium to speculators at the expense of the hard-working industrious settlers ; (3) no registration of land transfer to issue till all arrears of county rates are paid ; (4) interest at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum to be charged on all unpaid rates ; (5) mode of valuation as proprosed by Government in the new Rating Act approved of, subject to above suggestions. Taranaki — Waiwakaiho —None. Oakura —If Government take over main lines, they are best judges as to rating or otherwise ; and all ratepayers must find means to keep district roads in repair. Cases might arise as to bridges on district roads, where large funds were required, where borrowing might be judicious, if required. Mangarei (J. T. Upjohn)—The Bill will be a great improvement on the present system ; but I should prefer the ratepayers in public meeting fixing their own valuation, to last the time proposed by the Bill. The present is about the most wasteful system that could be devised. Patea — Wairoa —No answer. Manawatu — Manchester — That the Highway Boards should make the valuation, as at present. Rangitikei — Sandon and Carnarvon —Valuations to be made once every three years by the local bodies, which valuations would be available for the Government property-tax, the Government paying their quota towards expenses of valuations, local bodies having a better knowledge of the value of properties within the district. Wairarapa East — Triennial valuation should be made, and rate collected and distributed to local bodies by Govern- ■ ment. Every facility should be given to ratepayers for inexpensive appeal against valuation. Castlepoint — Valuations should be made, rate collected and distributed by the Government. Every
facility to appeal against valuations should be given to ratepayers. JVairarapa West — Masterton —Classyfying Crown and Native lands under subsection (f), and so giving local bodies approximate rates derivable. If such lands were held privately, Government could classify and distribute rates to bodies entitled thereto. TVaimea — Suburban North —Agree with the sketch. Amuri —No answer. Marlhorough — Havelock —None. Kaikoura —Not any; consider it adapted to this district. Kaikoura —Consider it adapted to district. Selivyn — Avon —The property-tax valuation would not suit the requirements of this district. Malvern—No answer. Rakaia—No answer. Spreydon—The same rate should be made applicable for counties and Road Boards, and assessed annually, in consequence of the constant changes taking place in the value, particularly in districts near towns. Springs—One valuation to include all ratepayers. Upper Waimakariri —Cannot offer any suggestions at present; approve of Bill as sketched. Ellesmere —No answer. AJcaroa —No answer. Ashburton — South Rakaia—No answer. Longbeach —If fixed value (see form) means uniform value, Board would object, especially in the case of educational reserves, tipper Ashburton —No answer. Qeraldine — Levels —We disapprove of Eating Bill before us. Levels (Chairman) —I consider the scheme proposed a desirable one for the necessities of country districts which are deficient in roads, bridges, and river-protection works. Assistance from some source to support local taxation is absolutely necessary if a district is to develop its resources. W^aimate — Do not approve of Rating Bill. Counties should prepare their own valuation rolls. Waiiaki — Otepopo—Valuers should be appointed by the ratepayers. Vincent —None ; unless, perhaps, whereby the Government should be rated for Crown lands. Lake —None. Approved of, with the proviso that the Valuator should consult the Council for local information. Peninsula — Portobello —We approve of Rating Act as sketched iv the circular, but think Road Boards should have the option of making their own or