RATES ON NATIVE LANDS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 189, 27 August 1937, Page 3

RATES ON NATIVE LANDS

-Ere.ss Association.)

Counties Suggest Remedies

(By Telegr&ph—

WELLINGTON, La»t Night. Native lands and rates were discussed by the New Zealand Counties Association at the' biennial conference to-day. It was deeided to ask the ' Government tp make certain deletions . from th^, Rating Act and substitute the -following clause with regard to rates " due" on native. lands: "Where it is sought to recover rates from' owners or beneficial owneTs local authorities sliall submit certifled • lists of the rates outstanding on native lands at March '31 in each year to the Native Department, which, if is satisfied the -rates are due, shali without further cost to the local authorities register liens for such rates against the titles of all such lands."1 The position at present is that applieation has to be made to the Court for a qharging order. The conference also deeided to urge that, where the Native Department had assumed or was: a'ssuming control of native lancis for development purposes, the department should be made responsible for the payment of 50 per. cent of all 'rates then due, sueh percentage thereafter to b.e increased to 12^ per cent . until the f ull rate chaTge was annually payable. Mr C. Matthews (Gisborne) said the problem of unpaid native rates was.a sc'ri'ous one, paftieularly in the North Island. One county on the east coast had had'tp put in' a commission,' merely becaiise" native rates were not' coiipctable. ......