TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3149, 1 August 1881, Page 2

TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 1881.

It is impossible to understand how Mr Sutton, after his speech on the Crown and Native Lands Rating Bill, could have supported the Government in their proposals as against Mr Ormond's amendment. Speaking more particularly with regard to this bill, Mr Sutton said that he thought it contained the same fault as did the measure that was introduced and withdrawn last session. That bill, while it fixed the fee simple valuation at £l per acre on Grown lands, and 6s 8d on native lands, precluded the local bodies from levying upon them more than half the rate imposed on lands in the possession of -juropeaus. The bill of this session enables local bodies to rate Crown and native lands to the same extent as other lands, but it still fixes the fee simple valuation as did last year's bill. Mr Sutton pointed cut that in Hawke's Bay the bulk of the land in the hands of the Crown and of the natives is fully worth £5 per acre. Why then, asked Mr Sutton, should the local bodies be bound down to a cash value of £1 and of 6s 8d respectively per acre ? Then again he objected to the classification of land being left altogether to the Survey Office, the local bodies having nothing whatever to do with it. In spite, however, of these objections—objections of sufficient force to condemn the bill altogether—he announced his intention of accepting the proposal on the principle that it was better to have half a loaf than no bread. He then went on to say, if there is one question which has excited public feeling in tbe North Island more thau another, it is that repugnance which the settlers have to being obliged to pay to make roads in order to improve Crown and native lands, when they receive nothing in return. I can give, said Mr Sutton, an instance within my own knowledge of how this works. Not far from Napier there is a most valuable block of native land of about 600 acres in extent. I have no hesitation in saying that it is one of the best pieces of land in New Zealand, well cultivated, rich in grass, and worth certainly not less than £30 an acre, or £18,000 in all. Now, what will that laud have to pay under this bill? Thirty-six shillings a year on a rate of Is. And immediately adjoining/ it, separated from it only by a wire fence, I is another block of about the same size

and in :!__ same state of taiuvation, which at the present rate of Is iv the ; pound pays about £30 a year. On this block is an improving settler, a mau who bas bought his land and improved it, and who has to paj your property-tax. and all other taxes: and yet he has to piy £30 a year in rates; while the land on tbe other side pays nothing at present, aud will under this Act only have to pay 36s a year, simply because it belongs to a native. And even that will be paid by the Government. Of course there may be a question of policy involved in that, but I cannot see how it comes in with respect to the case to which I am alluding. I am perfectly well aware that this is not the only case in which native lands will become liable to rates, and in which it will probably be a matter of public policy for the Government to pay those rates. As I understand the bill, the Government are to advance the rates, and when the lands pass into the hands ofEuropeans, on being acquired as leasehold or freehold, the rates are to be repaid by the persons acquiring the lands; but I should like to know—and no doubt the Colonial Treasurer will attend to the matter in committee—what steps the Government intend to take for the purpose of recovering, or allowing the local bodies to recover, rates from native lands which are never likely to pass into the hands of Europeans. I know of thousands of acres of land near Napier which will never pass into the hands of Europeans, and it is not proper that the public funds should be devoted to paying rates which the natives are perfectly well able to pay themselves. lam sure that, in the district from which I come, no attempt would be made, or allowed to be made, to put any unfair pressure on our Maori fellow-subjects, or to impose on them any taxation which we have not to pay ourselves. lam certain the local bodies would guard their interests withajealouß eye; but I am equally certain that until the local bodies in the North Island find that all lands within their boundaries) pay taxes at a uniform rate they will not be satisfied. In the full knowledge of the dissatisfaction which the bill will give should it become law Mr Sutton votes for it. If he thinks this course exhibits the proper representation of his constituents we fear he will find it is an opinion that is not shared by the electors.