NATIVE LANDS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9852, 3 November 1924, Page 3

NATIVE LANDS

NEW SYSTEM OF RATING. LAND IN DEFAULT MAY EE SOLD OR MORTGAGED. WELLINGTON, Nov. 1.

On the moving of the second reading of the Native Land Rating Bill, the Hon. J. G. Coates expressed the pride of country felt by every New Zc-alander and eulogised the work of the Ethnological Board in placing on record an accurate account of the Native people who populated the country and how - they divided the land among themselves. These titles were derived sometimes by occupation and sometimes by conquest, in either case they' were dear to those who held them. Then war with the European intervened and some of these lands were confiscated, with the result that loss of their territory rankled in the breast of the Natives for the several generations which had since passed. It was under these circumstances pleasant to find the Native members of the House assisting Lhe Government to clear away difficulties which naturally arose between the two races in occupation of the Native land. The Bill before the House would he thought to go a long way to this end. The Bill provided for Native land to ho liable to rates in the same manner as if it were European land. Exemptions are made for customary land, Native land not exceeding five acres occupied by burial grounds and not more than five acres on which a Native meeting house is erected. Other classes of Native land may be exempted by Order-in-Counci I Where Native laud is vested in trusts in a- Maori Land Board, Native trustee or the East Coast commissioner, the trustee is required to pay all rates on that land, but only to the extent of the net revenue received on behalf of the beneficiary owners of the land affected. There are provisions for the recovery of rates on Native land, with a proviso that the same right of appeal as that exercised by tlio ordinary ratepayer may bo held. Where it is decided rates arc payable, a charge over laud may be made to secure the recovery. If the charge remains unpaid for a period of more than twelve months the land affected may be vested in the Native Trustee to he sold for the recovery of the rates. It may, however, in discretion of the Native Trustee be mortgaged instead of being sold. Local authorities are given power to remit rates due on Native land either wholly or in part. Air Liysnar asked why such an important ' Bill was brought down _at such a late stago of the session. There were many contentious matters in it and the local bodies ought to be consulted. He asked the Minister to hold the Bill over to give time fulfil rther consideration. The Hon. A. T. Ngata supported the Bill generally, as- did Sir AL Bern are. The Bill was then passed through its remaining stages without opposition.—PA.