SETTLEMENT AND RATING OF NATIVE LANDS.

Te Puke Times, Volume II, Issue II, 8 July 1913, Page 3

SETTLEMENT AND RATING OF NATIVE LANDS.

' : — , /. MrH.-W. S. King, Chairman rof the, Rotorua County Council, has given notice of' his intention to move at the next meeting of . the- Council ... "That this Council having ; noted the intention to promote . legislation during the present dealing' with the settle- • ment and rating of Native-owned t lands, would beg respectfully to , submit for the Government's consideration the following sugges- ; tions for the improvement of V > existing: conditions, unless pro- • vision has already 'been made in ■ ; the direction indicated : - v '7'That all Native lands, whether l . .subdivided or not, should be ' /•''liable for local rating.' i* owners are not known, or. titles individualised, "■ ' the,.rates should bs a charge • 1 .' against the land, and in any acthe ; recovery of rates in :'- ; arrear, judgment shall be en- ' . .'forced by the local body against '' ; the land in the same manner as a : judgment may be forced against 'c'vland owned by Europeans, as provided for by the Rating Act, 1908.' '

'That'it should be mandatory. s on Maori Land Boards to forward ' . ; ;to'the Valuation Department re--1- •' ports of all transactions in Native ;v owned lands under their control.' .• v "That roads on Native-owned 1 lands, before being proclaimed vas such'; should be subject to the '-approval of the local bodies, who ;will subsequently have the con- ' trol and maintenance of them." ''That when Native lands are leased or purchased by private ' persons or the Crown, a percent- ■ { 'age of the rent or purchase monv>: ey should be retained by the • •••••Ma.oriLand Boards, for payment ■ to the local bodies, fortheformation' and maintenance of roads ;■>' ; within the lands so dealt with. ,il'i.v " That some scheme for the efficient roadi ng of Native-owned - land should be. formulated and y undertaken by the Public Works vdepartment, and the land loaded '•-pwith the cost of the work."