SALES UNDER RATING ACT.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 385, 17 July 1889, Page 5

SALES UNDER RATING ACT.

The selling of property under the Bating Act of 1882 has* engaged considerable public attention in Auckland, and the legal fraternity of that city have been in communication with the Government on the subject. ]Mr T. Thompson brought) the matter up in the House yesterday, when he asked if the Government intended to introduce a Bill this session that \\ ould amend the Acb with a view to limiting the powers at present held by local bodies to sell land for overdue rate?. He opined that some local bodies abused cheir powers under this Act, and saved the expense of a collector of rates. He was aware of wellknown men in Auckland who had had their property sold without notice for these ra*"es. The Colonial Secretary said he had no wish to give legal opinions eratis, bat lie thought that if any local bodies had acted in the manner indicated by Mr Thompson, then the property-own sis had a good action against them — an ooinion to which a lawyer present said "Hear, hear." There was no doubt that-, when such powers as were exercised under this Act were given to local bodiessomebody must be inconvenienced. It was for property-owners to see ttiat their rates were paid, and not the duty of the local bodies to run after them if the}' neglected to do this. Thon they must not grumblo if they suftered under the Act. The section ot which the honourablegentleman complained was in his opinion very fairly worded. He mentioned that he had been in communication with some legal gentlemen of Auckland on the matter, but he did not see his way to promise that any such change as was wanted would have his support.