RATING NATIVE LANDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2131, 13 July 1907, Page 2

RATING NATIVE LANDS.

Press Association. WELLINGTON, yesterday. The question of rating native lands was brought before the Native Minister to-day by a Taranaki deputation, who complained that blocks owned by groups of natives escaped payment of rates because one or more individuals had no direct responsibility or liability in the eyes of t-lie existing law, so far as the payment of rates was concerned. The Hon. Mr. Carrojl said some change should be made in the law, but it. would require to bo a gradual change. Where native lands were situated within reasonable limits of European settlement the rates should be j>aid. Natives so situated should bo on the roll and have a voice in the affiars of the couty, and there should be no escape from their obligation. The Minister did not hold out a definite hope that what the deputation required would be done this session, but he promised to give his best attention to the matter with a view to remedying the existing unsatisfactory state of affairs.

CRUSADE AGAINST THE OCCUPIER. TE AICAU BLOCK INCIDENT. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, last night. Tlie grievances of Local Bodies in respect to noil-rateable Native lands were placed before the Native Minister (Hon. Jas. Carroll) this morning by a Taranaki deputation. It was pointed out that considerable areas of Native lands in Taranaki, although they were occupied as dairy farms or for other purposes, were not paying any rates. One instance mentioned was that of a block of 88 acres situated within a mile and a half from a township and which although it was producing milk (which was carted over the adjacent roads) was marked “noilrateable” in tho Valuation Department’s roll. It was pointed out that the Native lands on which no rates were paid were often occupied and cultivated in a desultory and irregular manner by Enropeans. These people, it was stated, arranged for yearly grazing rates but there was uo legal binding contract. Tho deputation urged that the occupier should be held primarily responsible for the rates and at the same time they agreed that Natives paying rates should have tlie right to exercise the local franchise. •

Mr. Carroll, in replying, said that he sympathised with the views of the deputation, and he would consider the question of dealing with “Mr. Occupier” in a way that would prevent him escaping from his liability. In the course of his remarks Mr. Carroll referred to a case in point which he said had arisen in connection with a portion of tho TeAltau block, the title of which was now in suspense, owing to the last judgment on the subject having been stayed pendin'' the hearing by the Court, of Appeal of an application for a mandamus. The local body concerned had applied to bun (the Minister) for payment of file rates due on tho laud or for assistance in recovering the rates From the Natives. Ho advised them to await the settlement of the dispute regarding the title, when the subdivision of the block would no doubt take place. “But, no,” lie added, “this local body would not listen to me, but- went right, at it. They got three men put on the valuation roll, took action against them, and eh tained judgment. The hill was sent to him and oil enquiry he found that of the three men who had been put on tho roll and sued two were dead before tile action was taken. An Auckland lawyer bad accepted service of the writ on behalf'of the third* and judgment was taken by default. Such matters as these, he said, would not solve the difficulty. They needed to ho guided by reason and commonsense in such matters.