GRAZING RIGHTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5119, 29 April 1927, Page 1

GRAZING RIGHTS.

LIABILITY FOR RATES. LEASE OF OPATITO BLOCK. At the Paeroa Borough Council meeting on Thursday evening last the following letter was received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands advising that an application from Mr W. H. Wight for temporary grazing rights over a portion of the Opatitp Block, Paeroa, had been granted by the Land Board at a rental of £5O a year. Upon Mr Wight being informed of the decision, however, he had replied that he would not be prepared to accept the. tenancy if he would be Fable for the payment of rates. It was desired to know whether the council would assess the applicants tenancy as being a rateable one, and, if ;o, to advise the amount of rates payable yearly. It was pointed out that the tenancy was granted for gr- zing purposes only, and from the department’s view was mainly for. the purpose of checking the spread of noxious weeds on the area. The Mayor (Mr AV. Marshall) said that after the matter, had been fully discussed at the committee, meeting he had moved that the following reply be forwarded to the Commissioner : “That the Commissioner be advised that if the land is occupied it becobe.s liable for rates, and this council has no knowledge of any provision in law vesting it with discretionary power in the matter of levying rates on rateable property. That the history of the acquision of this block of land by the- Crown is such as to entirely preclude the favourable consideration of such a proposal if it were possible. That the land was purchased by tlie Crown to save the owner paying rates, and that since its purchase it has been continuously used, and the council considers it quite unfair to the balance of the ratepayers. That we suggest that in order to ensure- the land being kept free of noxious weeds it be leased to the council at a nominal rental, with a noxious weeds prevention clause and with the right to sub-let.” It was also decided to advise that the. council was awaiting advice from the Valuiftfon Department as to the subdivision, and until that information was received it was not possible to advise the amount of the rates to be levied.