RATING NATIVE LANDS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 542, 15 February 1913, Page 3

RATING NATIVE LANDS.

COLLECTION OF RATES. POSITION IN WAITOMO COUNTY. In connection with the question of the collection of rates en native-owned lands the experience of the Matamata and Raglan Counties, as published in last issue of the Chronicle, being considerably different to the frequently expressed opinion of Mr P Mora, clerk to the Waitomo County Council, a Chronicle • representative waited upon Mr Mora with a view to arriving at an opinion as to the position of native rating in Waitomo County. In reply to a query Mr Mora said that the legislation was certainly not perfect, but with a little addition in detail, in his opinion, it was the best that could be produced to meet the conditions under which the native lands were held. Introducing one of the drawbacks to the present system, Mr Mora said that many native blocks had been partitioned and the Valuation Department, which was responsible for placing the names on the rate roll, had not yet received particulars. The consequence was that on the rate book appeared the name of one native as nominated owner of the block. It was obviously unfair to ask that man to pay for the whole cf the owners. On the other hand the council could not accept that owner's proportion of rates, and free him from liability, as they would then have to nominate some other individual as owner, and the same process would be repeated until the whole of the owners had been cit»d. If it was arranged thst particulars Land the liability registered against the titles, and before any of the titles so encumbered can be dealt with the liability has to be liquidated. It has to be borne in mind, however, said Mr Mora, that the position of the natives in other counties may be somewhat different. In this district there is considerable traffic in native lands, and the owners of blocks do not want their titles encumbered. Moreover, a considerable number of natives are working their own places, and are in a position to pay rates. Again, the majority of the local natives at present have money derived from the sale of, or lease, of lands which they have parted with, and are thus able to pay rates on the lands they wish to keep. It is hardly possible to draw a fair comparison between different counties unless the conditions in each are similar. However, as far as Waitomo County is concerned the position is fairly satisfactory, and with the improvements indicated matters would be considerably better.