RATING NATIVE LANDS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 339, 22 February 1911, Page 5

RATING NATIVE LANDS.

DISCUSSED BY COUNTY COUNCIL TEST CASE PKOBABLE. At Monday night's meeting of the Waitomo County Council a discussion took place on the vexed question of recovering rates from owners of native lands. Crs Buddie and Were moved that with a view to enabling the Council to collect rates from native lands within the | County immediate steps be taken to niace all natives in occupation of i lands, whether as owners or occupiers, on the roll, and that if necessary the clerk be authorised to employ the. services of a native agent for that purpose. Cr Buddie said he had been looking into the matter anil he doubted whether they were in any better position to-day than they were before the recent Native Lands Rating Act was passed. In a great many eases I they had natives with individual titles and other', in occupation. It ; had been useless putting these people eti the roll in the past. Let the ' Council now take a lest case and try ;to recover tiie rates. If they were eoing io get these native lands avail- ' able tor charitable aid rates they .mould get it done. t The chairman: "We don't even put ' white men on the roll. " | Cr Hoddie quite agreed, but applica- ' tion could Lie made to the Valuation j Department. 'fbe Council should i make a strong effort to get these na- ! Lives on the roll. The chairman said they seemed to deci ie in Auckland which sections were rateable or not rateable. Cr l'.o.ldie said he wanted to find out v. hat fatalities Lhis or any other Council had in recovering native '■■ rales. it was an intolerable injustice ito European ratepayers. What was i I lie nemit ol the legislation'.' Were \ they any better oil".' ■ Tin. chairman said lie did not see how I hey could do it in the way pro- , p".vd. I ,:unls giving no y ieid could \ not be rated. Neither clerk nor naI Live agent could add names to the roll. 'l'he'.' weie getting a good many names, but they were European lessees of native land. j Cr lioil'uian said the best thing was to write oi. the native Minister, asking him what, ihe County's position was ' with respect (d rsiing native lauds. ; i!r O'Dwyer agreed with Cr Holi'j man, in applying to the powers that ! lie for information. I it was decided to leave the | maier over, pending a reply from the j Native Minister. As soon as a reply is received if is the intention of tiie Council to take ! active steps to endeavour to put the 1 collecting id' native rate 3 on proper j footing and if necessary, take a test j case on the subject.