RATING NATIVE LANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1920, Page 6

RATING NATIVE LANDS.

DIFFICULTIES OP COLLECTION. The question of rating of native lands was considered at the last meeting of the Hokianga County Council, and as the outcome a letter has been sent to the Prime Minister urging that the law be amended next session to enable local bodies to enforce'payment of rates on such lands as in the case of European holdings. The letter ,to Mr. Ma'ssey states:— "During the 101S session we sent ji petition to Parliament on {his matter. The Lands Committee recommended the petition to the Government for favorable consideration. The report of the Lands Committee was. on your own suggestion, referred to the Native Affairs Committee for consideration. This apparently was the cud of it, as nothing has been done since in the matter- During the last seven years rates struck on native lands in the Hokianga Co'inty amounted to £14,483, out of which w'e have only been able to collect £.174, as follows: ■Year ended Total Amount March SI. Kates. Collected 1014 £ir:(P, £BO 191* lOr.r, nil 1910 1782 MS 1917 l-r,2 71 191S »ii:i7 G4 191!) 28110 177 I!W9 2831 38 "We think you will admit this is a most unsatisfactory state of affairs, especially when you consider that the natives are on tin- same footing as Europeans in other respects. For instance, under the present Act, they could nominate candidates for councillors, and. owing to the large number of them, could easily elect a native council to control the county."