NATIVE RATES.

Shannon News, 9 August 1927, Page 4

NATIVE RATES.

(From the East Coast News.)

The question of the rating of native lands is a sore point with most County Councils, particularly in the North Island, where almost every county is affected. The three East Coast counties are very hard hit, particularly Waiapu, where a huge sum is affected. The position is that native lands reap the benefit from the large expenditure which has resulted in such improvement to the means of communication in the county, but do not bear their share of the cost. The position in which the county finds itself financially is, to a considerable extent, due to non-payment of these rates. The seriousness of the position here can be gauged by the fact that the sum involved runs into over £20,000. Matters locally are complicated by the consolidation schemes going on. Whilst the final effect of the schemes will probably be all to the good the delay leads to endless confusion and makes the position, of the local body most difficult, as in the transition period it is almost impossible to nail the liability to any particular owner. One of our contemporaries advances the suggestion that all native lands that are not reasonably utilised for production should be taken over by the Government at a valuation based on production. This is perhaps all right, but it is just a question whether, with a people who have had only a short period of European civilisation, there should not be a provision for a certain area of inalienable land for each fullblooded native.

Recently Councillors A. W. Kirk (chairman) and F. J. Williams, accompanied by Mr. J. S. Nugent (solicitor) visited Wellington to interview" the Native Minister in connection with the matter. Tc deputation received a hearing, and the Minister and the officials of the Native Department recognised the difficulties of the position. It was admitted that consolidation was holding up matters, but it was submitted that it was impossible «to show greater expedition in this respect. It u r as agreed that the fees in charging orders should be charged against the properties, but the Department would not agree to lessening the period (twelve months) within w r hich these orders should take effect. Approximately £4OOO was promised by the end of this month. It will be necessary to get legislation through to protect the amounts arranged under the Commission awards, and the Prime Minister promised to see this through. One of the deputation, Cr. F. J. Williams, said that the whole trouble seemed not much nearer solution, but the Council would have to keep on trying what could be done under the present conditions. Unless the Government came to the rescue the Council w r ould continue in financial difficulties.

It was resolved by the Council that the member for the district be written to asking that the period within which charging (.or vesting- orders shall become operative be reduced from twelve to three months, and that a remit to the same effect be forwarded to the Counties’ Conference. Cr. F. J. Williams

has prepared a very exhaustive statement covering the whole position arising from non-payment of native rates, and it was resolved that a copy of this, with a covering letter, be forwarded to Mr. Jull, Chairman of the Counties’ Association, who has been devoting attention to this phase of county administration. . The position is so serious that it behoves the Government to take active steps to meet the County Councils, whose work, thankless enough, is rendered so much more difficult by the non-payment of rates by people who receive the same benefits from penditure as those who have to foot an unnecessary heavy bill.