CROWN TENANTS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 129, 8 February 1909, Page 3

CROWN TENANTS.

♦ Recovery of Rates. i of th<- matt' : - brought before ti-.f < Vjnimi~ i<")n♦ •rr< f < rown Lands by representatives of th< - Raglan County Council during the Commissioner's recent visit to the district, was the recovery of rates from Crown tenants, j The Council's reading of the Land Act jg that the I.ands Board shall pay the rates of a defaulting Crown tenant, but in the Council's e:q . : Board had not assisted tin j. Referring to the W'aingaro case. ir.e Councillors present explain-d '<•> *' Commissioner that they had a-:.\ ito the Board's instructions that the* -- - cil must exhaust its i<-g»! reme'ties first, and had issued a summons, pot judgment, taken out a judgment sum- ; rr.or.s without satisfying its claims, and then had got no rates from the Board. The Commissioner said that all the Land Boards in the colony were unanimous in their interpretation of the Act, and were resolved not to do the tax-col-lecting for the local bodies, who, in many cases, were very lax indeed. Local bodies, he said, should distrain, and if they could satisfy the Board that there were no effects, then the Board would be prepared to consider the matter. Cr Bankart said it seemed necessary to get this clause of the Act amended, and the responsibilities of both 1 < s clearly defined. Both bodies wer<- a:ministering the law, and it seemed absurd that there should be any doubt as to the procedure necessary f< r the recovery of rates When the ( ..unc.i took the necessary steps and failed, it was only reasonable th;/ tbey should expect the assistance the Lands Board. The County Clerk was of opmi-n that the clause should be mandatory, and the County Chairman. add-d that if the local body, who in n.ost ■ a.-' s were thoroughly conversant with the | position of rjf-i au ;t'-rs, th..i Board that < ry aa-i 't• •■' - :na a- ; and there wa.- .t ni:.!•> recover on, it should be :.t. I'. was '-vm.-ntiy i a matter that waal' a r- visaca j The (:- : full particulars "f ; the special ca ••••. aa : ; " !: -t.-u hr,v '' : it affect, d a'. !■ aa r. :a:ti< -as. body hr-.fi ■' t v... %• ar .- rat'- - a.a : tr.» j Board ha i ••• r.'- : ■ r-nt, _ ''w.- 1 - : quentlv t'n ■ ■ d: ■' ra" aa a no '' • r. i r.'i:-. j The Com:a 1- s ass ■ .aid la- was invar.' of the cas.- •!. :»:.d he thought it | was a ni is tha' -a- t-:.r»i.t snouid ! have l.f'-n a.. g" ?■» ;or,g. but the a. . i ".'a'y wa.- always to be a bit i. This, h-fflv-vr. seemed to b" a .-use of misplaced ler.-]r-;.C.', f'li ti-i- rat-- a a.a.:i the Re.ard had had great out their share oi tii'■ woih, but at tiny time in a similar case,' if the Council was satisfied there wad nothing to distrain upon, he would cause his rangers to make enquiries, and there would be no additional expense. Raglan Chroni iclc.