NATIVE LANDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 24, 28 July 1939, Page 5

NATIVE LANDS

RATING PROBLEM

COUNTIES' POLICY DEFINED

The policy to be pursued by the New Zealand Counties' Association was defined in a comprehensive remit adopted by the biennial conference yesterday. The remit was as follows:— "That the policy of the association in matters relating to Native rates shall be:— "1. That the Government be requested to amend the Rating Act, 1925, by deleting sub-sections (2), (3), (4), and (5), and substituting therefor the following:—With regard to the rates due on Native lands, where it is sought to recover the rates from the owners or beneficial owners; the local authorities shall submit certified lists of rates outstanding on Native lands at March 31 in each year to the Native Department, which, if it is satisfied, after giving the owner an opportunity of presenting his side of the case, that such rates are due, shall^ without further cost to the local authorities, registerliens for-such rates against the titles of all suph lands, and be responsible for the full rates, unless in the joint opinion of the Department of Native Affairs and the county council or other rating authority concerned, the productivity of the property does not war- j rant such payment, butkmly portion thereof. . j "2. That the Native Department, on assuming control of Native lands for development purposes, be made re-j sponsible for payment of 50 per cent.j of the total rates then due, and there-' after during the progress of develop-, ment work rates be paid on the basis of 50 per cent, for the first year and increasing by 12| per cent, each year until the full amount charged annually is payable. "3. That in connection with Native land with potentialities for future development, the Government be asked to make an annual grant to the county councils concerned of 25 per cent, of the /value of the total rates levied on such lands, until productively developed."