The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. CROWN AND NATIVE LANDS RATING ACT.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 61, 1 November 1887, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

CROWN AND NATIVE LANDS RATING ACT.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aiiu’st at be thy country’s, 'JJhy God’s, and truth’*.

Tuesday, October 31, 1887.

The motion passed in the name .of Mr Gannon at the last meeting of the Harbour Board relative to the intention of the Government to repeal the Crown and Native Lands Rating Act is one that should prove a powerful weapon in the hands of our member, and Mr Graham will be expected to wield it to advantage as far as this district is concerned. Were such a repeal to take place it would undoubtedly be a breach of faith on the part of the Government. The harbour loan was borrowed from the money lender on the clear and distinct understanding that certain security should be given by the Board. Part of that security was the rates to be derived from Crown and Native lands. Of this the Government were well aware, and sanctioned the stipulation. To repeal the Act would mean the abolition of that security, and the breach of a pledge to the money lender. As it is, the taxpayers in this district are heavily handicapped in having to pay a large rate to fulfil the obligation they have contracted, and the withdrawing of a source of revenue yielding about Z"8oo a year would, of course, necessitate the infliction of a further burden upon the taxpayers to make up the deficiency created. In a previous article we pointed out the loss to the County which must take place by a repeal of the Act, —the ultimate effect of closing roads which are maintained by these rates—and the fact that the Government have given their consent to the bondholders to hold them as security for money advanced should surely have weight in any actions taken by the Ministry with regard to the repeal of the Act. The Board's resolution justly concludes with a reminder to the Government that the construction of a breakwater at this port is one of national importance, although being carried on at the expense of the ratepayers of the East Coast. Though this gentle reminder is not likely to have any effect upon the Ministry, there is no harm in giving it, especially when they mean to take away so small a help, speaking comparatively, as that extended to us by the Crown and Native