COLLECTION OF NATIVE RATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1916, Page 8

COLLECTION OF NATIVE RATES.

CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT EFFECTED.

Correspondence between the E n moht County Clerk and the Native Minister over thß vexed question of oo'lleetion 1 of Native rates was read at the Egmont County meeting -yesterday. This is a matter that affects the Egniont County Council to a considerable extent. The County CleTk wrote, stating that several members of the Council and himself .had interviewed the Minister when in Opunake. The Minister pointed out that the recent legislation had not been fairly tried, at the same, time statins it was the intention 'to make the Natives ss asjgijjiPle to the payment of rates as Europeans. The Clerk stated that a .very marked improvement had taken place in the payment of rates by Natives, this possibly bavin" been assisted by the fact that the Native Land Board had been finally partitioning the bulk of the Native land, md the Natives themselves were keen on obtaining their individual title*. The law, however, was still de- j feetive. Ho had obtained S.M. Court judgments against several Natives, who were residing on and farming their individual holdings, but be could not obtsin payment of these judgments, after exhausting all legal means. These Na'.ivel were occupiers or holders of West Coast Settlement Reserves land, and received their rents .periodically from the Public Trustee, but these he could not attach, neither could he .sell the land, or their inteerst in it. The Public Trust Office had rendered every assistance, but the Native freehold title having passed to the Natives themselves, the 'Public Trustee was now powerless to act. The position was that the Xfitives in these cases would not pay, and, after using the machinery of the Act to the uttermost, and without success, the matter was at a standstill.

In his reply, the Hon. Herries (Native Minister) stated that if the land was registered in the District Land Register the Council could proceed under section 14 of the Eating Amendment a judgment in Court. If the land was not so registered, he advised the Maori Land Board should be acquainted, in case any* transaction Hook place. The County Clerk stated the trouble lay mainly with, the small holdings. A lien was useless, as the title was held ur.der tribal right, and the land might never be partitioned again. In this ease a Native occupier might squat for years, and never pay rates. Further power was necessary to enable the Public Trustee to lease or «ell such land. Continuing, the Clerk said it was astonishing the difference in the col'ec-

tion of rates between now and four or five year* ago. The Natives were paying up -.veil, save in the ease of some. ' The mattei was 'held over until the Chairman and Clerk obtain legal advice as to the position wider the ssction ouoted by tlio Minyier.