TOWN BOARD FOR TE KUITI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 16, 8 February 1907, Page 2

TOWN BOARD FOR TE KUITI.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Your correspondent " Wouldbe Ratepayer," advocates a Town Board for Te Kuiti, and there can hardly be two opinions about the matter, but, like a good many other things, there are two sides to this question. Allowing that it is necessary to have some controlling local body, let us not lose sight of the fact that all this township is held under Maori lease, which at the end of the twenty-one years from the commencement, is subject to a revaluation, or, to put it in plain English, we are under the curse of Maori landlordism, and when the terms of the present leases are up, we may be pretty sure that the whole valuation will be materially increased. And for whose benefit ? Certainly not the lessees, whose enterprize has made the place what it is, and who will have to pay the piper. So that, assuming that this enterprise is continued, what benefit are they going to derive from their efforts. I understand that there is what is known as a Vigilance Committee, and I take it, it should be its object to either take the necessary steps to give the lessees the right to acquire the freehold of their sections from the Native owners, or induce the Government to acquire the freehold, and give the occupiers the same option. Then, I should at once say, create a Town District, or perhaps a Borough. There are very good arguments in favour of either-plan, which could be put before the inhabitants at a later date, but as things are, any improvements are simply for Native owners, who don't do a stroke to enhance the progress of the place, so that I fail to see the object of being in such a hurry.—lam,etc., ANOTHER WOULD-BE RATEPAYER.