THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILLS.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1584, 29 August 1882, Page 3

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILLS.

TO THE KDITOtt Sir.— As it is very deshable that public attention should be directed to the Local .Government Bills now before the House, and copies of which have been forwarded to the district boards with a view I presume of obtaining the opinion of those bodies, might I request space to draw attention to same points which I think Require alteration and suggestions for ,tbeir amendment which ha\e been forwarded by the Pirongia District .Board to the member for Waipa. Clause 15, subsection 6.— lt would Beem that land belonging to natives even ifjield under Crown tiilr is to be exempt (from rating, unless owned or occupied by some person other than a native, though how lands belonging to natives could have au owner other than a native is not very ' clear. This is a letrogradc step, as under the'present law all private property held "\infler 1 Crown title is liable and lias hitherto paid rates, whether owned by natives or others. As far as I can understand this section, the wording of (Which is rather ambiguous, a native might purchase a propei ty in the centie of a European settlement, and unless occupied by some person other than a native it would be exempt from lating, wjiile if a settler, rented it from the native owner, it would be liable at once. Surely this is not intended. Clause 15, para. 3.— Alterations in valuation toll to be transciibcd into ratebook : This seems unnecessary as it is to be presumed the rate-book would not "be made up until the valuation roll was finally settled. If otherwise it might 'lead to nuvnoious altemtions, and with those made under clause 18 the rate-book might be confusing with the numerous obliterations and initialling^. Clause 19. — Three initiallings to every alteration might be reduced to one duly authorised by the boaid. Clause 22. — Demand for rates may be made by, among other methods, " leaving it on the promises." As pi onuses would include land in a state of nature this would seem rather objectionable, and a collector not very diligent in his search for the owner might make use of it so as to inflict hardship if not injustice. Would suggest that in cases where owner is unknown demand might be made in the same manner as pi escribed in clause 33 for service of summons under similar circumstances. Clause 30.— 1f by the time during which rates can be recovered is limited to two years is not apparent. Such a restriction puts a great deal of exti'a trouble on local bodies, besides necessitating continuous legal proceedings. Thcic are numeious instances of properties on which the rate docs not amount to moic than two or three shillings a year, and the owneis, though vailing to pay, do not take the trouble every year to send such small sums perhaps from long distances. There does not seem any valid reason for placing the recovery of rates in a different position from that of any other debt. Clause 37.— The fee (20 shillings) to the public trustee for sending notice seems exorbitant, considering that the cost to the public is merely nominal, and would tend to make the proceedings unpopular. Clause 40.— Authorises the payment of reasonable interest not exceeding 4% on balances of sales oi land, while by the previous clause the same oilicer is entitled to charge 10%. It follows by a parity of leasoning that the latter is altogether unreasonable, and those who aic unfortunate enough to have their properties sold will not be able to recognise the difference. Third Schedule. — In a laige and constantly increasing number ot cases the owner and occupier arc the same, and it seems unnecessary to occupy so much space and entail so much clerical labour in entering all the paiticulais twice over. It would be suflicicnt to enter the name of the jjvnon pi una> ll g liable only with one column in which to enter owner or occupier as the case might be. In any case the ratebook will not shew the names of all those liable for the rate in default of payment by the person piimanly liable, and in many cases it is hard to tell who is the practicable owner, from whom payment will ultimately be obtained. There should also be a column for arrears so that the whole amount due on any property would be seen at a glance. At another time I may tiouble you with a few suggestions on the lload Boards Bill. I am, &c. Edward G, McjMinn.