EX-SOLDIER’S RATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1922, Page 5

EX-SOLDIER’S RATES.

PENALTY OF NON-PAYMENT. STATEMENT* BY MINISTER. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Jan 25. The failure of some soldier settlers to pay their rates was mentioned in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. A. D. McLeod (Wairarapa), who said that certain local bodies in his own district were being embarrassed by the loss of revenue. The local bodies had to maintain the roads and the waterraces, which were used by the soldiers, but they were being deprived for the time being of a part of their revenue. Some of them had to pay the interest on special loans raised -for works that were benefiting the soldiers’ settlements. Mr. McLeod asked if the Government could give some assistance to the local bodies. „ TJ The Minister for Lands (Hon. D. n. Guthrie) realised that the question was a very big one. The payment of rotes was a condition of the soldiers leases and agreements, and men who did not nay their rates were liable to forfeiture. One case in the Wairarapa district was a difficult one, but there was another side to it. The soldiers had been fightjug to secure the reduction of what regarded as excessive valuations, and in the meantime they were not P a J in S their rates. They had been notified that they were making themselves liable to forfeiture. . , Some of the local bodies, continued the Minister, had accepted a quarter of the rates from the soldier settlers. He thought that if local bodies would meet the men in a reasonable way something might be arranged. Some of the men were two years’ in arrears nofir. The, Government could not possibly undertake to pay the rates on behalf of these settlers. I f Mie did this in one case, he would have claims from all over the country. Th e rates question was a matter between the local bodies and the settlers. The Government would assist the local bodies to collect the rates by impressing upon the soldiers that they were liable to forfeiture of their sections if they did not pay. “I know that the Minister would not forfeit the sections of a man who could not pay his rates and 1 would like him to say so definitely,” said Mr. G. Mitchell (Wellington South). “He left an impression that those not able to pay their rates would lose their sections. A number of men cannot pay their rates. Others are not trying to pay and I have no sympathy with those.” The Minister replied that he had not said the sections would be forfeited. He had said that if-the rates were not paid the sections were liable to forfeiture. He had not forfeited one section in New Zealand, for non-payment of rates and he hoped that it would n6ver be necessary to do so. Men who were trying had nothing to fear. The Government would stand by them, and members v ould find when'they examined the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Amend* men! Bill that the Government was extending its powers to assist the soldiers.