“HARD CASES”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 44, 14 May 1927, Page 16

“HARD CASES”

MAORIS AND RATES WORKING FOR CHINESE A LUDICROUS SITUATION (From Our Resident Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The ludicrous spectacle of Maoris leasing their lands to Chinese for varying terms, and then working for the Chinese market gardeners on their own land at day rates of pay was pictured by a speaker for a deputation before the Minister of Health, the Hon. J. A. Young, when the difficulty of the Otaki Borough Council in collecting rates from the natives was emphasised. The serious position into which the borough had been forced was later placed before the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, as Minister of Native Affairs, who said that, although he was leniently inclined toward the Maori, there was a point in the avoidance of the law beyond which it would be impossible to go, and at which action would have to be taken.

“Do 3 r ou want me to sign the death warrant of these natives?” he asked, when several councillors approached him asking him to consent to native properties being sold so the borough could collect the rates on them, an order of the court having decided a test case in this way. It was shown that during the past two years the Maori property owners in the Otaki Borough had paid £67 out of a total of £1,350 rates levied on them.

This brought from Mr. Coates the ejaculation: “They are hard cases.” The Maori rates, so said the deputa-

tion, comprised one-seventh of the total rates of the borough, and the finances of the little town were being seriously impaired, the overdraft on the general account being now £7OO above the legal limit at the bank. Mr. Coates: What is going to happen? Are the councillors to be personally responsible and have to pay out. Mr. Atmore, borough solicitor: That Councillor Smith said great easement is the position that is in the offing, could be secured by revaluation. Mr. Coates: Well, it is a knotty problem. Mr. Field, M.P.: Yes; I don’t know what they will do if they don’t get their rates. Mr. Coates: You do not think the “tai hoa” policy would do any good? Mr. Brandon, Mayor of Otaki: It would be all right if the Government will allow us to drop payment of the interest on our loans. The Prime Minister said he would promise to send his personal secretary, Mr. H. R. H. Balnevis, up to Otaki to negotiate with the natives, to have set up a committee, which would go into the question and see how the position could be met and the obligations to the borough fulfilled. Cases of hardship might arise, and be given consideration. “I take a lenient view of the natives’ case,” he went on, “but there is a point to which they can go, and after that the law must take its course. Before the law takes its course, however, it is necessary that I should have a thorough knowledge of the position before signing certain documents. “You may tell the Maori people that something will have to be done, and that this cannot go on for ever.” The deputation favoured the committee to impress upon the natives their responsibilities. When this matter was brought before Mr. Young. Dr. McKibbin, of the Department of Health, asked: “Is that anything unusual when the Maori will not pay his rates?”

Mr. Young: You should have no difficulty in collecting from the lands that are leased.

Mr. Atmore: Very little of it is leased, and then the land is in the hands of several owners. They lease the land to the Chinese, all having a say in what should be done, and then you find the Maoris working for day wages for the Chinese on the same land.

Mr. Young: You have to get them for spurious leases. You will have to make them responsible for rates, or the Maori will eet you evert’ time.