RATING NATIVE LANDS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2124, 6 May 1920, Page 3

RATING NATIVE LANDS.

DIFFICULTIES OF COLLECTION. The question of rating of native lands was considered at the last meeting of the Hokianga County Council, and as the outcome a letter has been sent to the Prime Minister urging that the law be amended next session to enable local bodies to enforce payment of rates on such lands, as* in the case of European holdings. The letter to Mr Massey states: —

“During the 1918 session we sent ;i petition to Parliament on this mallei'. The Lands Committee recommended the petition to tlie Government for favourable consideration. The report of (he Lands Committee was, on your own suggestion, referred to the Native Affairs Committee for consideration. This apparently was the end of it, as nothing has been done since in the matter. During the .last seven years rales struck .■m native lands in the Ilokianga County amounted to £ 11.483, out of which wo have only been able to collect £074, as follows —

Year ended Total Ain't March 31. bales. Coll'ld. 1914 C 1,730 £BO 1915 , 1,(555 101 1910 ' 1,782 143 1917 1,522 71 ■ 191!)' 2,890 177 1920 2,831 38 ‘‘We think yon will admit this is a most unsatisfactory stale of affairs, especially when yon consider that the natives are on the same looting a;; Europeans in other respects. For instance, under the present Act they could nominate candidates for councillors, and, owing,to the large number of them, could easily elect a native council to contioi the county.”