SOLDIER SETTLERS’ RATES.

Shannon News, 18 July 1924, Page 2

SOLDIER SETTLERS’ RATES.

At last Saturday’s meeting of the Horowhenua County Council, the , chairman, Cr. Monk, reported the result of the visit of a deputation consisting of Crs. Harkriess, Ryder, Catley and himself with the County Clerk, which waited on the Wellington Land Board in respect of Government liability for arrears of rates on soldier settlers’ farms.

“As the result of the deputation,” stated Cr. Monk, “we have received a promise that the Government will be responsible for all special rates in such cases as the soldier settler has left the farm. Further than that they are not prepared''to go. Even this, however, is a. distinct consideration, as on one settlement alone the special , rates amount to £2OO, although in this case it may be mentioned that the special rates are nearly three times as heavy as the general rate. The same deputation waited on the Minister of Public Works to ascertain if the Department would be prepared to validate later a loan poll if taken now, so as to enable the County to go. right ahead when the expected financing regulations are gazetted. The Minister told us that there was little likelihood of this being allowed and stated that the Minister of Finance would make a statement on the position within the next week. Although this was a fortnight ago,, there has still not been any statement, but I notice that the matter has been taken up by the southern members of the House, so there is hope that something will be done shortly. This holdup is very unsatisfactory as far as this County is concerned, as the. whole of the preparatory work which was undertaken with a view to enabling the earliest possible advantage to be token of the Main Highways Act when passed, was, if not wasted, at least discounted to a considerable degree. However, we do not propose to let the matter rest. We have two representatives of the County, in the House, in the persons of Messrs Linklater and Field, and we can rely in them keeping the matter before Parliament. If that does not do any good, we.jvil take another deputation down. Cr. Haxkness asked if the Government would be prepared to reimburse the County for money expended on purchasing land for roads on soldier settlements. . . . u . The chairman: Yes. A claim has been put in for £l2O and will probably be got. And this leads up to. the question of writing off some of the rates which are non-recoverable. Y will move that the following r ates be written off as at the 31st March, 1924, for the year 1920-21: General rate, Tokomaru Riding £l4 15s lid, .Wirokino Riding £Bl 11s 6d, Otaki Riding £23 Os lOd, Te. Horo Riding £77 IQs ?d. Separate rate: HorQWbeixua Water races £2 18s 2d, Hautere water races £2 Is Bd, special rates £132 11s 2d. In regard to a certain amount of these rates, they are the. result of the over-valuation of that year, and the later adjustment of values. The rates had been struck on the valuations and when a rate is once struck it has to be collected or written off. About £BQ of the amount proposed to be written off is soldiers* rates, and of this amount there is about £3O included in the special rates for which the Government has accepted liability. Although this money. was written off, concluded the chairman, he wished to impress on the Council that if they later saw an opportunity, it could still be collected.