RATING OF GRAZING RUNS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 71, 14 September 1911, Page 5

RATING OF GRAZING RUNS

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. 8y Cable—Press Association—Copyright Wellington, Last Night. A deputation of settlers from the Mangamahu district waited on tire Prime Minister to-day regarding the system of rating on grazing, lands under the amendment of the Rating Act of last year. They argued that the Rating Bill introduced last year was intended merely to make certain provisions of rating law applicable to native land, whereas pastoral runs and small grazing areas were placed on the same footing in regard to rating as other lands, and these had not been the terms under which the pastoral and grazing runs had been taken up, The Prime Minister replied that the reason for the alteration was that a number of local bodies throughout the Dominion represented to the Government that the expenditure they were incurring was benefiting grazing runs, whereas the latter were not contributing towards ,the cost. When the law was altered for a reasonable purpose it did not become a grievance, and he quoted instances that often occurred in local body affairs. Whether they should receive special consideration in view of the land having originally been . bush land was a point worthy of consideration. It must be remembered that other places in New Zealand were equally affected, and whatever was done would require to be general in its application. The deputation also asked that a telephone to .Mangamahu be extended fifteen or sixteen miles, thereby serving eight or ten settlers.

The Prime Minister said lie would be presently giving definite instructions regarding the new extended system of telephony, which would probably meet the wishes of the deputation. Xo difficulty would be experienced by settlers grouping themselves to meet required conditions. At present he did not want to give out details, but would probably make a statement in the House about it.