RACLAN COUNTY COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 257, 9 March 1917, Page 2

RACLAN COUNTY COUNCIL

A Great Record. For the ninth successive year the Raglan County Council has collected the whole of its European rates before the 31st March in each year. For the present year 1916-17, the total amount due by Europeans in general and special rates was £13,268, for which rate demands were duly forwarded on the Ist September, 1916, and the whole of this amount was paid by the 23rd February, 1917. As to the amount due by natives, the native general rate for the present year amounted to £1349, and to date a sum of £lsl has been paid, part of this by European either leasing or purchasing native lands and the balance by actions against ceitain natives. The Rating Amendment Acts, 1910 and 1913, have slightly eased the procedure in enforcing payment by natives, but there are still many legal difficulties to be overcome, and it is with a view of testing these amendments to the Rating Act, 190S, that certain proceeding? have been taken, and if not successful then all local bodies concerned in the vexed question of native rating should endeavour to obtain further amendments to the original Act. The passing of native lands into the hands of Europeans is by far the best remedy, however, and a very apt illustration is the Te Akau Riding of the Raglan County. In the year 1908-9 a sum of £7B only was received in rates from this riding, while for the present year a sum of £2IOO has been received from the To Akau and Port Waikato Ridings, into which the original Te Akau Riding has been sub-divided.