A.—lo

18

the County Council should have the final decision. Palmerston South —Road Boards. Waikouaiti —Same answer as No. G. Maniototo —See answer to No. G. Peninsula —No answer. Peninsula —The Road Boards should have the power of altering the divisions and the numbers of the members of Road Boards. Taieri —Neither should have the power. Waipori—The Roid Boards should have such power. Bruce —Road Boards to recommend alterations, &c.; County Councils should have final decision. Crichton —No ; to remain as now.

Question 7— continued.

G-lenledi —Road Boards should have the power of recommending alterations in divisions, and in the number of members of Road Boards, but the county shall have the final decision. Matau —The Road Boards. Mount Stuart —County Councils only should have power of altering the divisions and number of members, on the recommendation of Road Boards. Tokomairiro —The county, onthepetition of the Road Boards, and the Road Board on the petition of the majority of the ratepayers.

Clutha— The Road Boards. Pomahaka —The Road Boards should have the power of altering the divisions and the number of the members oi Road Boards. Molyneux South —Road Boards. Tuapiea —No. Clydevale — Yes, with consent of county. Southland —Road Boards, with the approval of the County Councils. Knapdale—Road Boards should have power only. Toitois —The Road Boards. Tuturau —No.

8. What rating powers should counties have ?

Jtfangomii —A general rate not exceeding Ir. in the pound, without the restrictions imposed in clause 107, Counties Act. Kaeo —General rate not exceeding Is. in the pound. Oruru —Not to exceed Is. in the pound. Totara —A. general rate not exceeding Is. in the pound without the restrictions in clause 107, Counties Act.' Holcianga —Power to rate all the Crown lands and Native lands. Power to rate up to Is. in the pound annual value. Whangarei —Two shillings in the pound. Maunu —Any moneys required by the County Councils in excess of their ordinary revenue should be levied on the Road Boards of the county. The latter only should have the power of levying rates, excepting they neglect or refuse to pay their quota to the Council, or to keep connecting roads in fair order. On such neglect or refusal the county should have power. Parua —Tho power of rating outlying districts, and rating, on petition of majority of ratepayers, for special works. Waikiekie —No answer. Waipu Middle —None whatever. Waipu South —Should have no powers to rate within road districts, except on petition of ratepayers. Sobson —No answer. Okahu —None, where such powers are in the hands of the Highway Boards. Paparoa —No rating powers in highway districts without consent of ratepayers. Wairau —None whatever. Wairau (by ex-Chairman)— See answer to No. 9. Whakahara School Committee —As at present. Rodney —Bating powers should be at our own discretion, so that we can exceed Is. in the pound if deemed necessary. Albertland South —No answer. Arai —Present powers seem reasonable. Upper Mahurangi —Only over outlying districts. They should not have the power of striking a rate over highway districts. Mangawai—Counties should not have power to strike a rate in road districts for any purpose whatever, unless petitioned by a majority of members of the Board. Counties should have power to strike rates in outlying districts. Omaha —Not more than Is. in the pound. • Matakantt West —No answer.

Puhoi—Levying rates under extraordinary circumstances, in case the means of the Road Board were entirely insufficient, and the Government would not or could not grant subsidies. Tauhoa —None. Abolish them. Wharehine —Not the counties, but the Road Roarda. Wainui —Under the proposed system of valuation by an officer of the Government the residents will be heavily taxed for revenue purposes and for road rates, making them pay for all the improvements they have made, and because they have been accumulating capital through hard work and industry. If the useless counties are to have power also to levy a rate, it will be most disastrous to the settlers. It is well known that unimproved and unoccupied lands under the present Rating Act are of small use for taxing, and since it has been in force most of the northern Road Boards have lost half their incomes. The acreage rate, not exceeding three or four pence, with the power to let or sell for non-payment of rates, proposed to be given to the Public Trustee, would be most beneficial to these districts. Waitemala —No answer. Kaukapakapa —Two shillings in the pound should be the maximum, hut ratepayers should have the option of fixing the amount of rate to be levied. Lake—Present rating power sufficient. North Shore —None where Road Boards are formed and rates levied by the Board. Waitakerei YYeat—None. Waitakerei West (J. Cottle) —No suggestion. Waitakerei West (H. Hunter) —No suggestion. Whangaparoa —None. JSden —No answer. Fjpsom —See answer to No. 16. Mount Roskill —No answer. Mount Wellington — None in the Eden County. Newton—As at present. Panmure—Optional as at present. Ponsonby —No rating powers where such powers are in the hands of Highway Boards. Waikomili — The counties should have no rating powers in highway districts where there is a Board elected and strike a rate. ji&anulcau —No answer. Mercer.—The amount set forth by the Rating Act is insufficient, but an alteration is required when a Road Board exists within a county where

the Act is in operation, in order to avoid double rating, which presses heavily. Hunua—None at all. Karaka —None. Maraetai —No powers over Road Board Districts. Opaheke —One shilling in the pound in counties, but no power to levy a rate over districts where Road Boards are in existence. Otahuhu —None others than at present given by statute. Papakura —No answer. Pollock —None. Pukekohe East —No answer. Pukekohe West —See answer to No. 1. Waipipi —Counties should exercise a power in rating over that of Road Boards, so as to take advantage of such Acts as the Roads Construction Bill only. Wairoa—Not exceeding 2s. in the pound. Thames—A general rate up to 2s. 6d. in the pound on all lands and properties within the county except within those portions of the county comprising a road district. County Councils should possess no power to rate within a road district, except as before stated for main road. County Councils should possess power to strike special rates for tramways, bridges, and other special works. Parawai —None. Waitoa—A general rate for the whole county as at present. A general rate in outlying districts, as a substitute for Road Board rates. Separate rates and special rates, as provided by the Counties Act. Separate rates, as suggested in reply to Question 5. Pialeo —As at present. Waikato —The present rating power is considered sufficient. Kirikiriroa —The present rating power appears to be sufficient, We do not think tbat any Council in this locality would attempt to 'levy a rate. Waipa —No answer. Hamilton —As at present. Kihikihi —None. Rangiaohia—None whatever. Tuhikaramea — None, where Road Boards are in existence. Raglan —Same as at present. Pir.mgia—No answer. Raglan Town—No answer. Whalcalane —The same as at present. 'Cook —Remain as at present. Ormond—Five per cent. only. Patutahi — Five per cent, general rate, and 5 per cent, special rate, with the sanction of the ratepayers. Te Arai —Up to 5 per cent.