A.—lo

28

Papakura—Present system preferable Pollock —No. Open to ratepayers only. Pukekohe East —Enforce Local Election Act in all districts. Pukekolio West—Yes. Waipipi—Certainly not. Wairoa —It is desirable. Thames —Yes; such is the method at Thames. Parawai —Yes. Waitoa —Yes. Piako —Yes. Waikalo —By the Auckland Highways Act these elections are held in open public meeting; they are satisfactory, and cost only one advertisement. Kirikiriroa —By the Highways Act (Auckland) these elections are held in open public meeting, and are perfectly satisfactory. Waipa —No answer. Hamilton —By open public meeting. Vote as Act, 1874. Kihikihi—Tea. Rangiaohia —Yes. Such a mode is more in unison with the views and opinion of people in country districts. Tuhikaramea —Yes. Raglan —Elections should be conducted by ballot, in the same way as they now are for the County Councils. Pirongia—Yes. It is done so now without ahy special order, and thero is no apparent reason for necessitating a special order. Raglan Town —At a public meeting of ratepayers only. Whakatane —Approve of Local Elections Act. Cook— No. Ormond —No answer. Patutahi —Yes. Te Arai—-To be held in open public meetings. Poverty Bay—No. Tauranga —No answer. Katikati —No. Te Puna —As at present, by vote of ratepayers. Wairoa —In the opinion of this Council all elections for public bodies should be held under the Regulation of Local Elections Act. Hawke's Bay —No. All elections should be held under Local Elections Act. Heretaunga —Yes. Kereru and Aorangi—Yes. Maraekakaho —Yes. Okawa —Yes. Papakura —As at present. Petane —Yes. Elections should be held in public meeting of ratepayers. Te Mata—All elections should be under the Local Elections Act. Waipawa —Road Board elections should be held at open meetings of the ratepayers. Norsewood —As at present. Ocro —Yes. Ormondville —Road Board elections should be held at open meetings of the ratepayers. Ruataniwha North —No. the elections should be by ballot, under the Regulation of Local Elections Act. Tamumu —No. That only ratepayers should be present; and that all elections should be under the Local Elections Act. Woodville—No. Taranaki —Yes. Manganui—Yes; but, upon application of any candidate, the voting to be by ballot. The Chairman of open meeting to send the names of candidates to County Clerk, who should be Returning Officer for his county, and that officer to cause election to

Question 13— continued.

come off within fourteen days from date of public meeting. Mangarci—Yes. Carrington —Unnecessary. Waitara West —It is desirable for Road Board Commissioners to be elected in open public meeting by plurality of votes. Egmont —Eoad Boards should be elected in open public meetings, in or as near centre of district as possible. Moa—To be elected by ballot. Okato—Yes. Clifton—Yes. Waitara East—lt is desirable there should be no secresy. Ingle wood—Yes. Paiea —Not considered. Hawera —]STo answer. Hawera—No. Should all be under the Local Elections Act. Waimate —No. Ngaire—No. Wanganui —No. WaitotaiM —No alteration in the present mode of election required. Rangitikei —Wo. Rangitikei—lSTo. Lethbridge—Not necessarily. Manaioatu —No. Manawatu—No. The present system of nomination and poll and ballot quite satisfactory. Otaki—lt is not desirable. Halcombe—No. Htitt —No ; under Local Elections Act. Kilbirnie —The present way answers very well, and gives more time for the ratepayers to vote, and no public clamour to control the voting. Kaiwara—No. Wairarajpa West —Present arrangement satisfactory. Peatherston —No. Carterton—No. Waimea —Open nomination and election by ballot. Motueka—By open nomination, and ballot if required. Upper Motueka —By open nomination and ballot if necessary, as at present. Waimea —Yes ; in small, but not in scattered districts. Richmond—lSfo; we prefer the provisions of the Regulation of Local Elections Act. Pangatotara—Yea. Rikawa—Yes. Lower Moutere—Open nomination and election by ballot. Collingwood —Under the Regulation of Local Elections Act. Collingwood—Under the Local Elections Act. Buller—No. Inangahua —Road Board elections should be held just as county elections are now held. Grey —No. MarliorougA —No answer. Awatere —Yes. Omaka —The present system of valuation preferable. Pelorus —■ Would not suggest any change other than bringing the Local Elections Act into operation. Picton —Yes. Spring Creek—Not desirable. Wairau—Not desirable. Lower Wairau —No j by [the Regulation of Local Elections Act. Pukaka—Yes. ICaikoura —No answer. Kaikoura River Board —It is not desirable that Road Board elections should be held like those of School Committees under any circumstances.

Ashley —No answer. Eyreton—No. Mandeville—As at present. Oxford—No. Waipara—No. West Eyreton—No. Sehoyn —Most of the Road Boards have adopted the Local Elections Act. Think it would be well to make this system compulsory, as it avoids confusion. Courtenay—Compel all Boards to take up the Local Elections Act. Heathcote—Should remain as at present conducted under Regulation of Local Elections Act, which gives every satisfaction here. Lincoln—No, by ballot under Local Elections Act. Riccarton—Yes. Templeton—No. South Waimakariri —No ; should be conducted under the Regulation of Local Elections Act, as is now done in almost all districts. Akaroa —No answer. Little River—" Local Elections Act, 1876," best. Pigeon Bay—Should be optional, as at present. Port Victoria —No alteration to the present mode of election required. Ashburton —No ; no method could be possibly worse than that embodied in Education Act. Wakanui —Same as at present adopted. Mount Somers—No. Geraldine — That the adoption of the Local Elections Act should be compulsory. Geraldine—Members to be elected by ballot. Mount Cook—No ; the election should be by ballot. The Regulation of Local Elections Act is most equitable and easily worked, and should everywhere be enforced. Mount Peel —The adoption of the Regulation of Local Elections Act should be compulsory. Temuka—No. Westland —No Road Boards on the coast. WaitaTci —No. Kakanui —No; but as provided for by Otago Roads Ordinance. Board would also suggest that section 10 of "Otago Roads Ordinance 1871 Amendment Ordinance, 1874," be altered so that Chairmen of Boards have power to appoint fresh nomination day when election lapses. Waiareka —No. Would prefer present system of election as provided for in " Otago Roads Ordinance, 1871." Waitaki —No. Waikouaiti —No. All such elections should be under " The Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876." Palmerston South —No. Waikouaiti — Road Board elections should not be held in public, but in accordance with " The Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876." Manioiolo —See answer to No. 11. Peninsula —No answer. Peninsula ■ —■ Road Board elections should not be held in public, but in accordance with "The Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876." Taieri —Road Board elections should not be held in public, but in accordance with " The Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876." Waipori — Road Board elections should be held under the provisions of " The Otago Roads Ordinance, 1871." Bruce— Not desirable. Crichton—Not to be held in public meetings.