RATING ON NATIVE AREAS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 340, 16 March 1910, Page 7

RATING ON NATIVE AREAS.

ACTION BY WAIMATE COUNTY COUNCIL. For some time past the Waimate County Council have been trying to devise means whereby they would get rates from certain native lands in their district. The matter was again bi'ought up at Thursday's meeting (says the Hawera Star). The Valuation Department replied to the Council's letter asking that "the Public Trustee as owner in trust for natives" be inserted on the valuation roll in respect of the properties stated In nearly every case occupation licenses had been granted to the natives whose 'names were shown in the occupier's column. The rate demands should be sent direct to the persons who were occupiers within the meaning of the Rating Act. In cases where the lands had not been •let on occupation licenses the rate demands should be sent direct to the Public Trustee, who was liable in respect of any of these lands for which he held funds. The Public Trustee informed the Council, on the question of West Coast reserves, that the subject referred to had long since been settled, the Valuer-Gen-eral having been supplied with lists of names of all natives holding portions of these reserves under occupation licenses, and as these licenses were liable for payment of rates, the names had been* entered on the roll as occupiers. The chairman (Cr. Hastre) s-iid that; in connection with this question it was decided at last meeting to put the Public Trustee on the roll so that the Council could collect native rates. While in Wei. lington recently he went into the matter. He saw the Valuer-General and asked that the Public Trustee should be put on the roll. JTp was told that it was a. big order, but was asked to call again, and an interview was arranged with ,a representative of the Native Department. The result was that occunation licenses -were issued to every native in the Waimate county except in six cases—these were Email the Council could collect rates straight away. This was a big thing for the Council, as they never had this power ■before, and no other Council Bad it except in a few cases in the Hawera county. They should have the man on the roll who was in occupation, whether the owner of the land or not. On the motion of Cr. McPhillios, seconded by Cr. Mudford. it wa= decided, That all natives in possession of land at March 31st be compelled to par rates, and the same course followed in reference to Europeans in occupation of native lands.

The discussion showed that the practice of leasing the grass from natives for short terms had been followed, so as to avoid bein<r placed on the rate roll as occupiers of the land.