CORRESPONDENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 179, 1 July 1873, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[We do not necessarily endorse tha opinions expresied by 1 _ . our correspondents.} To the Editor oft the Waikato Times. ' Sir, — The District Boards of this province labor under two great disadvantages 3 / viz : the impossibility of recovering any rates from absentees, and the being compelled to levy a valuation rate. * •' ~ ■ With regard to the fiwt : bj r the " Sale for Non-payment of Bates Act, 1870," the Superintendent is empowered to pay the rates to the District Boards out of money of the province, available by law for the purpose, registering a memorial in the Registrar' of Deeds for the Hpg : stration District in wbich the land is situate, upon which the amount in the naid memorial, with interest at the sate of 15 per cent per annum, becomes a charge upon the said land. If the amount of the debt and interest remain unpaid for twelve months after such memorial is filed, the Superintendent may apply to a Judge of the Supreme Court for an order for the sale of the land. Notice must be given for six months in the Government Gazette of the province, and once » month for three months in"6n"#t>f the* 1 principal newspapers in the province, before the land can be sold. This seems to obviate the difficulty ; but, unfortunately, no money ia ever appropriated by the Provincial Council for tbp purpose. It appears to me that the ratepayers hare the remedy in their own hands. Let them refuse to Tote for any candidate for the office oP Superintendent unless he pledges himself to recommend the Provincial Council to appropriate a sufficient sum for the purp'oseJ^Wr" for any candidate for the Provincial' Council who will not promise to support such recommendation. • ' ' ' The proTince conld lose nothing by giving effect to the law on this •übject. Even if the'inoney|had to be borrowed, the Provincial Government could obtain it at & or 6 per cent. interest,-and would receive 15 per cent., which would much more than cover any expense they -would be put to. Moreover, they hare the ltnd. as security, which everybody must allow to be ample, as the law restricts the Superintendent to the payment of not more than two years' arrears. A return might be sent in on 30tli June in each year from the chairmen of the different Boards showing the amount required for the year* The second difficulty only applies, to the country Boards. A valuation rate, although the only one suitable to townships, is totally unfitted to the greater part of" the country districts, and in many of them is quite unworkable, as tl*e valuation bf the land would absorb the whole of the rate. In this case I would recommend the District Boards interested, before the meeting of the General Assembly next month, to request their representatives to roe their best endeavours to procure the alteration of, the "Highway Boards Empowering Act," in. such a manner as will enable the ratepayers to levy a valuation or an acreage rate at their option. Apologising for troublirig 'you with this long letter, I •ra, &c> Thomas Wieson, Chairman Newcastle District Bo*rd. Te Koao, June 2S, 1873.