RATES FROM NATIVE LANDS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 254, 6 March 1911, Page 3

RATES FROM NATIVE LANDS

DISCUSSION BY CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Cr. O'Sullivan, at Friday's meeting o/ the Clifton County Council, brought up the question, of the recovery of rates from occupiers of native lands, and deferred to the fact that the Tikorangi correspondent of the "News"' 1 bad again drawn attention to the matter. Cr. O'Sullivan agreed with the opinions expressed in the paper that something should be done. He had been informed that in the Tikorangi riding there were as many as twelve settlers who never paid a shilling in rates. It was time to take steps to remedy this anil Jind out who the occupiers of these lands are. The chairman (Mr. Foreman) said it was for the Council to take such steps as they considered best to further their interests. About four veal's, ago he had been' active on the same question; he had brought it up at a county council conference, waited on the Native Minister at New Plymouth, and done all lie could to get the Council some standing in the nutter of collecting rates from native lands. The Minister told them to exercise their powers under the Act, and they did so, and their solicitor had' written to the Native Minister'for .his consent before the demands could be enforced against the owners, but there lmd not been any reply. It was a difficult matter to distrain on goods, as tliere was no possibility of finding out really to whom the stock and stuff belonged, and on the other hand the Miuister"\voulil not consent to distrain on the I'aud. Unless the Council had an injunction from the Court on the land, they were abso* lutely powerless, fie did not' believe they could get the names on the ,rolf: By the Act of last session they would be able to collect the rates, but in the great majority of eases the people ' living on the land had a certain amount of stock and cultivated a portion of the ground, and in the case of'trouble would 'in all probability be successful in having their names taken off the roll. Opinions had been received from the lion. Mr. Ngata and Mr. Fisher, but nothing was done.

Cr. O'Sullivan said,if the Valuation Department did not put. in the names of the occupiers the Council slicubl appeal against the valuation roll. It was, the only thing to do. ' The chairman said the question to consider was whether they'would undertake the clutv of going round for the particulars and approaching the Valuer-deneral to have the names put on the roll.

Cr. O'Sullivan: The Council should take steps. , Cr. Julian: The Department won't trouble themselves about the matter. Cr. O'Sullivan said he believed that' unless the Council took steps the settlers would do so themselves. He suggested that Mr. J. Walker be appointed to find out the proprietors of the native lands, the holders of:the sections, and how, and if possible to get rates, and also to supply the Council with a list of native owners, whether they were on the'-ro1l ( or not. The chairman: I believe w/i are-going to have considerable trouble. Some people say the Council has been very slack, but it is mv opinion that if they were on the Council they would not have been any mor? successful. Mr. O'Sullivan then moved that Mr. J; Walker be engaged 'by the Council to make enquiries and furnish the office wit'h the names and addresses of, those Europeans who were 1 occupying, or using native lands in the Waiiii, Tikorangi, Urenui and Mokau ridings, with a riew of having the names of such persons placed oil the valuation roll of the county.—lfr. Sander seconded,- , The chairrtian said he was riot against the motion, but he had not much faith in the Council profiting by it unless.they had the power to collect from- .native owners. ' . The motion was carried.