BATES ON NATIVE LAND.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 540, 8 February 1913, Page 3

BATES ON NATIVE LAND.

♦ amended legislation SOUGHT. POSITON IN MATAMATA. With a view to bringing about an alteration in the law regarding rating on native lands, the Patea County Council is circularising local bodies, asking for all particulars relating to native lands within their jurisdiction. The Matamata County Council has furnished the following information in reply: —The land owned by natives in the county is 59,783 acres, the valuation being £37,339 for the yearß 1909-10 and 1910-11, the rates for that period being £233 7s 4d, of which not one penny had been recovered. For 1911-12 the area was 49,667 acres value £55,667, rates upon which came to £248. During the four yenrs the council had lost £960 through its utter inability to recover from native owners; only one Maori had paid any rates, and that was during the last two years, the amount being £8 13s 4d. No attempt had been made further, than by personal application and correspondence, it being futil to sue for same RGLAN COUNTY'S EXPERI- , ENCE. Commenting on the question of rate collection Mr Marsland, clerk to the Raglan County Council, writes as follows: —It is indeed hard on the European ratepayers, who pay up so promptly, to see natives practically exempt from rating owing to the present cumbersome and defective law governing the enforcement of the payment of rates due by natives.