LOCAL BODIES' CONFERENCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 153, 6 May 1909, Page 2

LOCAL BODIES' CONFERENCE.

A conference of great interest to this district is to be held at Auckland on Wednesday next, when the local bodies interested in the collection of rates on Native land will meet and discuss with a view to amending the present grave position. It has long been felt that radical alteration was necessary in order to meet the case and the present conference is the result of action taken by the members of the Raglan County Council. The following letter sent by the Chairman of the Raglan Council to other councils interested conveys an idea of the position and of the steps proposed to be taken: — Dear Sir. —During the years 1906-7, and 1907-8, this Council placed all Native land owners on the rate book, and attempted to collect from them under the provisions of "The Native Land Rating Act. 1904," now incorporated with "The Rating Act, 1908." The valuation of Native land in this County is about £170,000, and the General, Special, and Hospital rates same for the above two years, amounted to £2944 16s 4d, and of this amount only £7 16s 6d was recovered, and the balance written off is irrecoverable, although all available means were adopted to enforce payment. We took a special case to the Supreme Court, against some Native owners, duly obtained a verdict, and sent a memo, of same to the Natives' Minister, who, however, declined to enforce satisfaction of same. As the Natives take full advantage of the metalled roads, and absolutely refuse to pay any rates, we think the time has come when some united action should be taken by the Counties concerned, to obtain such amendment of the prseent law, that will make it absolutely compulsory on Natives to pay rates. We can suggest two remedies: —

1. That the words "The Ministry may" appearing in Sections 9-5 and 96 of "The Rating Act, 1908," be amended to read "The Minister shall."

2. That all partitioned Native Lands be brought directly under the provisions of Sections 56 and to 78, of "The Rating Act, 1908," and so power be given to the Local Body, to recover against the land, as in the case of the European owner. The latter remedy seems to us the most simple and satisfactory. We should suggest that a conference of all Counties in the Auckland province, who are concerned in the collection of Native rates be held, say at Auckland, at an early date, the matter fully discussed and united action taken to try and amend the present grave position. We would thank you for a reply as soon as possible, and if the replies we receive are favourable to the holding of a conference, we will fix a date, and advise you later. Any suggestions you can make bearing on the matter will be thankfully received. Yours faithfully, BASIL HEWETT,

Chairman, Raglan County Council

The matter will be discussed at the meeting of the Waitomo County Council to be held at Te Kuiti on Monday next, and in all probability a delegate will be appointed to attend the conference on behalf of the Council.