ABSENTEEISM AND HIGHWAY RATES.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 635, 15 June 1876, Page 3

ABSENTEEISM AND HIGHWAY RATES.

Sir, — Together with tho oustom which 'iv this new country has obtained of valuing property much higher when it is improved tban vhen neglected, tho result of which drags hcuvily on tho skiits of progress, there is another great obstacle, viz, want of power conferred by the legislators ot the General Goveinmont to enforce from lands belonging to absentee* their quota of revenue, because they are at pnsent outside the cordon of tho physical instruments of tho law, or because to sut its machinery in motion would be too expensive in so doing, thereby causing all aid, support, and expense ot improvement to fall on tho roal colonist and settler, who struggles and labours for tho absentees advantago ; the latter belonging genorally to a class of comprehensive and far-sighted individuals who, hko the scheemers of the national debt, saw that they could oasily (and very wisely in their case) mate others then -unborn pay for their present accommodation, only that the nbsentecs 'individually not nationally wait till tho time comes and accomplish their end without giving any assistance, thus throwing tho burden on the rcnl settler, besides being an actual obstaclo in his wa> ; for it is a well-known fact thit many of the real occupiers would inorease, extond, find improve if t'Lo absentees would part with their land, but the latter being at no expense can v»ait, time itself btting a safe and good interest. 0f course ' every British subject expects freedom of action as 'bearing upon his liberty more in this couutry than at home, and it would bo ridiculous to expeot a land owner to remain in this couutry merely because he was one. Still, when the Law by certain restriction protects ■tho interest! of communitici, in the midst of which there may be avocations oxigiting of a hazardous nature, so may the sime be expected 'by settlers, in the midst of which exists a mutter | ot a like nature, which materially affects their interests and progress. One .point might bo of consideration, as to whether it would be advisable to innko it become operative generally, or like tho different Act* supplemented in tho ThiBtleAct, the sb'encing Act, Brands Kegistration Act, &c, and always available for the I governiug bodies if required, or advantageous to the peculiar circumstances of each or any, and in districts whero absolutely necessary, thus •relieving the General Government in a degree of the otiiii and responsibility of what might 'be thought sweeping and stringent measures, nnd at this timo when the local bodies arc to be inverted w ith direction and application euiUble to each ehiro or county, it may not be reasonable, astnnny matter* of this kind, 'it is to bo hoped, will bo developed. Ihe. question ol absonteoiim and an equitablo d tiling with deserted or neglected lands have been a desideratum long wished for, but more especially in districts settled by military element like the Wa'kato, whore the original grantee of tho land, generally speaking, rarely occupies tho same, an almost complcto exodus having taken pluee twclro months after location and besides this a want of capital -winch eventually forces the land intended to reproduce into the market 'more like share scrip or any other commodity and detents the intended object, viz. settlement but opens a channel 'for speculators and capitalists, merely with a view to immediate or futuroiproflt, as time alono and improvement, if any takes place, guarantees good interest and a sure enhanoment in value, and these arc they who merge into absentees, and experience has shown that thousands of , pounds >which should have b«m collected and spent improving tho districts remain only in figures on tho Sate Books as arrean, and "which, according to the present laws, aro credited to the absentees orery tw o years, umply,. because they be recovered for more than that period. 'If power from the Legiblature put the governing bodies in a .position to -let the lauds so neglectfed, the payment of which should equal the assessment 'only, not with a view to realise a revenue by rents equal to 'their value, which would take tho 'color of infringement on the rights of owners, but juit what would elicit sufficient to pay, and w ith a view to reimmirso tho governing 'body for road-making at or adjacent to such property, tho 'tenure being for a term of only thp current yoar, but renewablo,'then the ftbsenteo himself, or his accredited agent would, if such a preceding did not suit his views, inevitably have fro discover himself, thereon exposing himself as liable to action of the 'governing body, or as would be the case in nino cases out of ten, remain coneoaled and contented. An Absentee Act, a short olauso something after the 'foregoing, would doubtless work well. Of course the tenure would have to •bo subject to ontry by the owner — a matter not likely to interfere much with tho working of such a schome, — as many absentees aro only too -willing forretident ratepayers to make use of their lends in consideration of paying the rate, and which is now done ij many instances, but more frequently is this the caso on township •llotmenti than on rural sections. Ilowevor, now that Government ore incroaeing the upset price of lands offered to tho public, much of which finds its way into tho hands of the speculator, the registration of such (or any other) purchaso not being compulsory, and all ■other occupied lands aro so rapidly improving, some lueasurcs, it is plain to bo seen, aro, in justice to all eettler?, absolutely necessary. And now, that Wnikato has two ablo men »e«dy at their post to further tho interest of their constituents, and one of whom is udmirably suited to frame buch a scheme to perfection, it behoves every ratepayer in tho country to support tho iden, and, perhaps, after repeated attempts, lo usher tho meosure into existence. At all events, in tho case of tho Government not being able to ccc their wuy clear, they might, at least, honor the vast amount owing to ratcpoyori, and standing for the luit two yoan on every Bute 801 l in tho country, and, a clause inserted into tho Act, passed by tho Assembly, would compel übseritees, (or their assignees) to pnv off their liabihtes some tuno or other, as rating would become higher and higher each year, and owners would bocomo nnxious, and thoir position would, pcihitps, force itself upon their lmnu-di.ilo .tilenlioii. — 1 am, <io., J. it. v, 11 tUiulton.