GOVERNMENT GRAZING LEASES.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 124, 22 March 1919, Page 4

GOVERNMENT GRAZING LEASES.

A letter was bofore the Matamata (Jaunty council, on Friday, touching upon a mutter of the Government practice of refusing to ipay general rates on Crown Lands leased for grazing. This is a matter continually discussed by local bodies, but in regard to which action is seldom taken. Tho letter was as follows : " During the past two years this council has suffered considerable loss of general rates owing to the Land Purchasing board purchasing land for settlement and leasing the land on grazing right leases for considerable periods, during which time the Crown refuses to pay general rates. As these land transactions will certainlyincrease during the settlement of returned soldiers on the land, county councils will be faced with a considerable loss of revenue for the maintenance of roads while the Crown benefits by the counties' roads leading to and past the properties purchased and re-leased on Grazing Right leases." The Eketahuna Council invited assistance in having tho law so amended that whon the Crown purchases land for settlement the Crown shall pay general rates for the period of its occupation. It requested that tho Matamata council bring the matter under the notice of the Hon W. H. Hemes M.P., with view to having the law amended in the direction indicated. The chairman: I think they are absolutely right. / Cr. Stoptord: I have„*fJo hesitation in 'supporting th"e request. On "the chairman/e motion it was deoided-te-Utflte to the Hon. W. H. Herries and Mr J. A. Young M.P., on the matter.