NATIVE LANDS
COLLECTING OF RATES
REQUEST FROM COUNTIES
(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)
WHAKATANE, This Day.
The Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata, Native Minister, Judge Cany-Mr. Tai Mitchell, officer in charge of the Native, land consolidation scheme, ■ and Mr. Balneayis, the Minister's private secretary,- met a deputation from the Whakatane and Tauranga County Councils yesterday in regard to the consolidation of Native lands in the Bay of Plenty and the payment of arrears: of Maori rates.
■Mr. W. -Reid, -chairman of , the Whakatane County ; Council, explained that £19,000 was owing to his county and that with the next two years' rates added tho amount would be £25,000. He asked that, in view of the valuable lands held by the Maoris and the expensive working schemes undertaken by the council that the Commission award not less than 25 per cent, of-the arrears.
Mr. C. E.'-M'Miilan,' MJ.,. supported the request and contended that the Maori rates uncollectable should .be paid out of tho Consolidated- Fund. This was more equitable than the districts with large Native populations having to bear the full burden. Sir Apirana Ngata explained that the Ngatiawas, of the Opptiki and Whaka"tane districts, had decided, upon a scheme ;of consolidation, and the Whakatane Maoris had offered to the Crown- approximately 6000 acres: of land by way of compensation for the payment of arrears of rates. The Government valuation of the land, however, was about £500 short of the amount required to make up the 25 per cent, of the total rate arrears on tho Maori lands concerned in Whakatane. The matter would be submitted to the Native Land Consolidation Commission at Botorua, and a reply would be sent to the council within a week.
The chairman of the- Tauranga County, Mr. Sinclair, pointed out there were 50,000 acres of Native lands in Tauranga on which rates were not collectable. -
The- Minister promised to go into the position of the Tauranga lands with the Commission.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19291129.2.121
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Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 131, 29 November 1929, Page 13
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321NATIVE LANDS Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 131, 29 November 1929, Page 13
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