NATIVE RATES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 173, 9 December 1912, Page 8

NATIVE RATES.

THE TROUBLE OF COLLECTION; . This vexed question again cropped up' at the meeting of the Clifton County Council on Friday, when Mr 0. E. Horner clerk of the Patea County Council, following up a communication at the previous meeting of the Clifton County Council, forwarded a' copy of a latter which he had sent to the Native Minister, which he trusted would lead to something definite being done by him and suggesting that this should be followed by a similar letter from the Clifton County Council, pointing out clearly the difficulties they were under, and also enclosing a statement showing the loss incurred for the past few years through non-payment of the rates. A strong deputation during the recess, he added, might bo desirable.

The letter to tho Minister dealt at length with the difficulties experienced in the collection of native rates, and suggested that in cases where land was held by several owners or where the ownership could not be ascertained that the Councils might simply send a list of rates owing to the Government, and that these rates should be registered as a charge against the land in the same manner as survey charging orders are made, and that no further dealings with the 1 land should be registered until the claim was satisfied. A clause might be inserted giving the Government power to sell or lease the land after a certain lapse of time and pay the rates from the process.

The clerk (Mr. Vaughan) read a letter • fiom Messrs Wilson and Grey reporting that as the result of a distress warrant issued against one native the amount of the judgment had been recovered, and the bailiff advised that he expected to get another shortly. Mr. Walker, too, had visited Waihi and had been promised several amounts. At the February meeting they hoped to report what prospect there was of recovering the amount owing. Cr. Jones moved, and Cr. Elliott seconded, a resolution to the effect that the Patea County Council's suggestion be endorsed.

Cr. Hicks considered it a good suggestion to hold a claim over the land for the rates, but it might be some time before the land changed hands. Unless they made the Public Trustee liable for rates on the land held under his name he did not sec how they could receyer the rates. The resolution was carried.