OVERDUE RATES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20492, 10 March 1932, Page 8

OVERDUE RATES.

INFLICTION OP PENALTY.

REQUEST FOR DISCRETIONARY POWER. (press association tilegkam.) WELLINGTON, March 9. In the House of Representatives today Mr A. Harris (C., Waitemata) and Mr A. M. Samuel (C., Thames) asked the Prime Minister, the Et. Hon. G. W. Forbes, whether he could this session introduce an amendment to the Rating Act giving local authorities discretionary power regarding the imposition of the ten per cent, penalty on rates in arrqars. Mr Harris said that in cases of hardship arising out of tho depression many local bodies desired to extend lenieney to ratepayers but could not do so owing to the provision in the Act being mandatory. Mr Forbes replied that the Act authorised local authorities to add ten per cent, to unpaid rates, but that did not impose any obligation on them to do so. Any local body could, therefore, refrain from adding the penalty for such a period as it considered reasonable. The Government was prepared to consider making provision along the lines suggested if representations were made by the Counties' Association, Municipal Association, and other similar bodies. Mr Harris: Local bodies have to advertise that the penalty will come into operation in a certain period and there is no discretionary power once they have advertised. The Prime Minister said he would look into that aspect. NATrVE defaulters. STATE ACTION URGED. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, March 9. Native landowners on the East Coast of the North Island,, who can afford to pay 700 guineas for thoroughbreds and rido in expensive motor-cars, are i efusing to pay their rates, according to a statement made by Mr H. M. Campbell (C., Hawko's Bay) in the House of Representatives to-day, with a result that European ratepayers are being penalised to the extent of thousands of pounds annually. Mr Campbell said many leases on tho East Coast had expired, and the Maoris had taken over the land. He had no objection whatsoever to this because he thought it was a good thing for tho Maoris to farm their own land, but his objection was to the practice of these Maoris, in making use of public facilities, such as xoads, and not paying anything in rates. One county council had sent demands for £43,000 m rato3. and of this amount only £13,000 had been collected through the Maoris' default. This he claimed was placing au unduo burden upon the European ratepayer, and he urged that some Government action should be taken to regulate tho position. "My sympathies are with the natives who are holding land, and are unable to ~ meet their rate demands," Mr Campbell said, "but there is one par ticular man who recently bought a gelding for 700 guineas, and who rides About, in a most expensive' motor-cai from whom it is impossible to collect rates. Those native landowners who are able to pay—and there are many—should be compelled to do so."