MAORIS AND COUNTY RATES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1673, 13 February 1913, Page 5

MAORIS AND COUNTY RATES.

.-.■,'. ,'-ASTONISHING EVASIONS,.; ,';, w\ : (By Telcirraph.—Succial'OorrffißondonU ■';' ■':. ■ >." . Wanganui,Februaryl2. S About two: months ba>:k the Patei -.'■ County Council decided to obtain from , other-county councils particulars of rates' ■',:. levied on Native lands during the last'.' five years, and actual amounts col- ,/ lected;(and :mostj;of the answers).showed ■'.■;;• the extraordinary way in which a number ■ > of Native owners avoid their obligations :■>;■. in this respect. . Tho last of tho answers,,' wcro received at yesterday's meeting' of'v v the Pntoal Council, and tho figures, sup- I-" plied froni all sources indicated that, each XT, year,. an average of. JC45.000 is levied on, ' . iNativo lands':by bounty councils, but that , tho amount collected works out at the : paltry -average of: only J22000 0? .£12,000) - yearly. The Wairarapa, and Mastorton," '■ Counties are tlio most successful ih-get- : ; : . ting in Native rates, the bottom of the • list being occupied by Waipu County, ;--..-/■ : Mr. ,0; 'V; PcarccvM.P. • (chairman-of •< - the Pntea,County Cbancil); lis bringing;. y , tho matter under the notice of the,Mihls-.' ; . try, and will; certainly'have an array- of '■:>:•; convincing figures- to support, his arguments'for a bettor system of ratmg. ' ':