NATIVE RATES

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 521, 9 April 1920, Page 3

NATIVE RATES

EQUALITY DESIRED.

Following on the suggestion of Cr. Rawlinson at the last council meeting with regard to the collecting ol native rates (states the Raglan Chronicle), we are given to understand that a movement is under way to petition the Right Hon, W. i. Massey (Prime Minister) to have tinpresent law amended so as to enable local bodies to directly enforce '.he payment of rates by natives occupying land, and to place them exactly on the same footing as Europeans. It is worthy of note that during the last seven years the Raglan County has lost in irrecoverable native rates the sum of £8474. These are the figures for the years 1914-1920: Total Amount Native Collected. Rates. 1914 ;1180 1915 1230 96 1916 1400 112 i 1917 1340 go 1918 1400 223 1919 1400 149 192(i 1550 il'J £9500 ~5 ;10r l i Under the provisions of "The Hating Amendment Acts" 1910 and 1H.13 the council, with legal assistance, has used every effort to obtain payment, but with very little result, and thev find the provisions to enforce navment under these Acts unworkable. It is to be honed that all the counties in the Auckland PAivi'.ue wMI support this petition, and we are certain that the Prime Minister wn give ear to such a vital matter and endeavour to frame some workable scheme whereby counties with native areas will have more than a sport inchance of deriving revenue fiom tinsource.