NATIVE RATES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 229, 23 October 1940, Page 5

NATIVE RATES

COLLECTOR'S REPORT REVIEW OF PERIOD OPERATIONS "From the outset, I found the Natives quite sympathetic with and, in fact, very grateful for the scheme offered them by the Rating Authorities for enabling them to wipe off their arrears of rates. So far, 1 have not experienced any single case of di- i rect refusal to pay, although I have met with many genuine cases of those who find it most difficult to pay anything at all, especially cases where the lands are little or not used at all, and consequently non-productive. In these cases, however, I have pointed' out the necessity for leasing, either for long terms, or where they desire to retain possession for their own use, then for a term of one or two years to enable them to meet their immediate! rates. I have arranged quite a number of tenancies and payment of rates in this way," stated Mr A. O. Stewart, Native Rate Collector, in a report to the Whakatane County Council. The report continued:— "I have also supplied a list of good, idle lands to the Waiariki District Land Board,, and these have been incorporated in a scheme instituted by the Board for assisting to make these lands productive. , There are now in process of culti- , vation under this scheme approximately 530 acres In and around T'e Teko, 350 at Paroa and 130 at Poroporo, Pahou and Pekatalii. making a total of over 1000 teres. About, two-

thirds of this total area will be for maize growing, and the rest for barley and other crops. A good area in barley is now already in growth at Te Teko and the ploughing of the remaining areas in the several localities is noAV nearing completion. The total area of these lands is made up of approximately eighty sections averaging. 14 acres. In many cases, however, only a portion of these sections are being cropped, so that forrating purposes, a bigger area than the total given above is involved. Patient Dealing. "I have approached Judge Harvey and made application to him at o sitting of his Court at Paroa last month regarding the payment of rates on these sections, and he promised to authorise payment by' the board, in advance, of all rates unpaid for the period 1939 to 1940, and charge same to the crops on these lands. The board will also protect current rates out of such crops. As soon, however, as the plantings of the various crops are completed on these sections, I intend to write to the board for the promised payment of the 1939-40 rates. I estimate the rates affected by this arrangement to be approximately £590 for the period 1939-40, and £550 for the current year. "Up to the present 1 have covcred the areas in and around Waimana, Nukuhou, Paroa, Poroporo, Pahou. Rewatu, Pekatahi and Te Teko. Next Aveelc, I shall make a start with the areas in and around Matata,

"Slow progress has been necessary in the initial introduction of the new system of rate collecting amongst the Maoris as I have to deal with them very patiently in order to gain their full confidence and sympathy with the scheme, and so ensure their co-operation in the payment of their rates now and in the future. Particularly so was this the case with the older Maoris who belonged to a generation who always maintained that the Maori people should never be forced to pay rates. However,, after being satisfied with the generosity of the scheme and the prospects of being served with better roading facilities in their areas, I feel assured that so far as those I have approached are concerned, there .will be more willingness to pay rates. Difficulty With Native Titles. "Many of the difficulties experienced were due to complications in the Native titles, that is to say, the majority of the Native sections are owned by more than one owner, and so progress was often delayed in finding out the right one of the owners to pick on as the occupier of a section at certain periods oftentimes such occupation may change from one owner to another. In many cases, I have had to con-» suit an entire family of owners in a section to arrive at a satisfactory understanding as to who may. be liable for the payment .of rates. Where the sections are individualised, however, no difficulty whatever is experienced.

"Many cases had been met with where the owners had never received rate demands. Jn such cases, 1 found that rate demands were being issued in the names of deceased owners, the decease of such owners not being known-to the' Valuation Department. In this respect, I am doing the best I can to finxl».out the present occupiers so that the demands in future may reach the right quarters, and I venture to say, that by the time I have covered all the areas necessary, this object would'-be achieved satisfactorily Collections to Date. For the period from the commence ment of operations to date I haye collected or otherwise arranged for the payment of the various amounts of rates as shewn hereunder:— Cash Receipts .......... £682 1 9 Maize Assignments ..... 304 4 8 Factor}' Orders ........ 114 19 4 Maori Land Board. 432 17 1 Production Scheme (per Maori Land Board .... 590 0 0 Total £2124 2 10 (Note; These are County and Drainage Rates combined). "I have also promises of monthly Instalments where no orders or assignments could be given. Also resulting from my operations certain imjounts have been paid to the office lirect. As respecting the County Council—the Drainage Department , igures are not available—the cash. , •eceipt i'or this financial year to the ■ late of this report was £1218 5s 9d. . This figure is included in the anount of £2124 2s lOd above. In the bounty cash collections of £1218 5s )d there is an amount of £252 0s 4d , laid, by' the Native Rate Receiver, llr T. E. Hamcrton, and £50 paid )y the Arawa Trust Board on account of the Matata Water Rate compromise. "I believe that there are very reasonable prospects of the above amounts being collected in the near future. I believe also, that given reasonable time, the Maori's will be trained up to accustom themselves to make adequate provision for the payment of their future rates to the en- ] tire satisfaction of your Rating j Authorities," the report concluded. .