RATING NATIVE LANDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2083, 18 May 1907, Page 1

RATING NATIVE LANDS.

Replying to a Taranaki deputation which waited on him to present a resolution on the subject of rating native lands, the Minister for Lands, the Hon. R. McNab, has written to Mr. Jennings, forwarding the following reply by the Valuer-General (Mr. G. F. C. Campbell): “The difficulties in the way of attaining accurate, information respecting the ownership of native lands for roll purposes has already been brought under the notice of the Governm

by me. The members of the deputation, however, misrepresented the facts when they stated that the local bodies could not touch their rolls. The opposite is the case, as there is a special provision in the. Act enabling them to do this. I notice; how over, that there is a reluctance of the part of some local bodies in tin, colony to make alterations in their, rolls, even when their powers under the Act are pointed out to them. Local bodies are only restricted by law in the matter of altering values, as the department must control these, and the deputation does not seem to have found any fault with the values appearing oil their rolls. Thoy are, however, encouraged to altor Iheir rolls in .consequence of any changes resulting from transfers ‘of ownership or tenancy, or on account of the death of owners of tenants, and such-like grounds. It would bo impossible otherwise for local body clerks to correctly make up their electoral rolls from the valuation rolls. The real trouble lies in tlio fact that neither the local bodies lior the department can obtain the information respecting the ownership of native lands in many cases,

“A great deal lias been done by the department, and more is being done, but owing to the constant granting of succession orders and the difficulty of obtaining correct information regarding the names of the native owners (and it is useless for tho valuer to try and ascertain particulars from the'‘Maoris themselves), wo are not always successful in our search. I might say -that the Clerk of the Pariliaka Hoad Board (one of the deputation) called on me, and I had no difficulty in making a satisfactory arrangement with him as to future procedure. Xam confident that I can make satisfactory arrangements with others also,, if they will only advise the department when they require assistance. I have no difficulty. with the very large majority of local bodies, whose clerks communicate with the department freely. As an instance I may quote an adjoining country in which tho same difficulty occurred. The local body clerk, however, took the trouble to furnish a list of cases, in which further information was necessary, and gave sufficient details to enable the department to make a thorough search in the records of the Pulilio Trust and Native Offices, with the result that the clerk \vas enabled to collect the rates in a large number of instances. There is, however, reason why many of the local body clerks take little trouble with regard to native land entries on their roll. Tho value of individual interests in native blocks in some cases is almost infinis tesinial owing to frgquont subdivision. Consequently the expense of collecting by process of law does not pay. Under the existing law, also, a restriction is placed on the execution of a judgment summons, if issued. Consequently the local body clerk hesitates to summons the native, am] the native knows it.

“The Taranaki County Council has not, so far as I am aware, issued summonses against any of the Maori ratepayers who are correctly entered on the roll, and it would seem singular that if the Council has no intention of enforcing the law, it should require further details, the obtaining of which is very costly and troublesome. If -it is desired that tho natives should pay rates in tlio same way as the Europeans, a simplification of the present procedure would seem to be necessary. The restriction with regard to execution of judgment would, I think, require to be done away with. Land which lias not been subdivided according to the various interests involved should be entered on the roll in the name of one or more of the prominent owners, and these owners should be made liable for the rates on the block. With regard to the statement that tho Taranaki County Council notified the department of changes in native lands through deaths, etc., but nothing was done; I can only say that I find no trace of any such advice having been received. If it had been received I am certain it would have been thoroughly investigated, as has been done in other case's. Beyond a bare statement to tho effect that the native

entries on the roll wore incomplete, no information has come to hand, and no notification of changes as alleged appears to havo been received.”

Modern Barseeism is the direct descendant of the fire worship of the Modes and Persians.

An army officer must jiay £1 10s on his commission, but a naval officer gets off with a duty of ss.

Mr. and Mrs. Studholme, of ltuanui, havo presented to Tailiape a fully-equipped maternity home, and are paying tho salaries of the matron and staff, as well as all expenses incurred in running the institution over and above the fees received. The founders have no desire to make the hospital a charitable institution, and therefore a fixed charge has been made for 'each patient, so that it is hoped' tho homo will bo to a great extent! self-supporting. Such an institution has been greatly required especiallly when tlio scattered nature of settlement around Taihape is remembered, with the attendant difficulties formers’ wives experience in procuring the necessary medical and nursing attendance.