COLLECTING NATIVE RATES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 557, 9 April 1913, Page 4

COLLECTING NATIVE RATES.

A few years ago when the contro versy concerning the native land question was being hotly waged, it was freely stated that the rating of native lands would settle the problem definitley. On the face of things when native lands ate contributing taxes in the same manner as European owned land, there will be little to complain of. It has been found inexpedient, however, to place native land on an equal footing with European land in all respects, and certain reservations attach to the rating of native lands. This is ap-

par9ntly the beat that can be hoped for at present, and Mr Herries in l'uat as emphatic on the point as were his predecessors in office. That the steps taken to make the native lands ratable have met with some measure of success is evidenced by the fact that the Waitomo County Council during the past year derived a considerable revenue in native rateß, The collecting of £lO7 out of a possible £.316 indicates that, a fair percentage of native owner" are desirous of | meeting their reasonable obligations. It is, moreover, only reasonable to assume that aB titles become simplified, and blocks partitioned, an increase in the percentage will result. A further fact which should be noted is that the balance of uncollected rates is chargeable on the land, and arrears for a period of three years can be collected when opportunity occurs. The assertion that the occuprition of the land by Europeans is the final solution of the rating difficulty is no doubt correct, but the result of tho past years operations of the Waitomo County Council emphatically proclaims that in this district the efforts made to collect native rates in the meantime are thoroughly worth while. It should be noted by all w,ho may have dealings in native land ; that the majority of thesa lands are on tho rate book, and where the rates remain unpaid the purchaser will find himself saddled with the responsibility for arrears, unless steps are taken to clear the matter up when the transaction is being completed. The county council is to be commended for its action in taking steps to collect the native rates. Since taking the initiative in the matter an amount of nearly £2OO in cash has ,been received, which would have been lost to the county had the policy of other local authorities been followed. In addition there is little doubt that a considerable portion of tho remaining amount will be collected.