A TIME-WORN GRIEVANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 84, 30 June 1927, Page 13

A TIME-WORN GRIEVANCE

COLLECTING NATIVE RATES DEPUTATION COMPLAINS

(THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter .)

WELLINGTON, To-day. Persistent representation is still being made to the Right Hon. J. G. Coates respecting the difficulty in collecting native rates, with the consequent hardship upon European ratepayers in hospital districts who have to meet the quota for the hospital levy, and the Hospital Association executive advanced further evidence in this connection to-day. Mr. W. Wallace, Auckland, said that In some districts 10 per cent, of the fees should come from native rates, and £’hen these remained uncollected the Europeans were penalised to that exSome districts refused to take Maoris in. Mr. Coates: They are citizens, are they not? Mr. Wallace: We cannot collect from hative lands. The levy is on the capital value of the whole district. Mr. Coates: That is a general stateMaoris do pay rates. Mr- C. M. Luke: Not in all cases. Mr. Coates: Of course there are lands not individualised and divided among a number, so that the natives don’t niow how much interest they have. Are you to dissipate these lands in fates, when the poor chap never has a jhance to get on and work his land. I 1 a. title can be fixed on one man or family then he is liable the same as fh® pakeha. Mr. Coates promised consideration.