MAORI RATEPAYERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20050, 23 September 1939, Page 8

MAORI RATEPAYERS

COMPLAINT BY FARMERS STATE’S TAXATION POLICY The Government’s taxation policy in relation to the encouragement of Maori primary production was outlined in a letter received by the Auckland executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. The union had previously complained that the present system was inequitable, European farmers paying for roading and other amenities equally shared by Maori land-holders. In its reply, the Government stated that the first essential step in rectifying the position was to have the Maori land brought into production. The Government considered that the Maori should stand up to his obligations as a citizen and pay his share of taxation, but, on the other hand, the State could not agree to native lands being sold because of non-payment of rates, until such time as a particular Maori had been given a reasonable chance of obtaining the necessary revenue to meet his ordinary living expenses, farm maintenance and such charges on the land as rates. This long-view policy needed patience in affording the Maori time to become a self-sup-porting member of the community. The executive of the union decided to advise the Government, of its opinion that pending fruition of this policy, provision should be made to relieve European ratepayers of the unfairly high rate of payments they were called upon to make to provide roading for the natives as well as for themselves.