NATIVE RATING PROBLEM

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20736, 21 February 1939, Page 6

NATIVE RATING PROBLEM

Rating problems facing counties with large Maori populations are recognised by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, who has promised the Kawakawa County Council that he will make representations to the Prime Minister. Native rates have always been a difficulty with the counties because the native landholder has not enjoyed a standard of living equal to that of the European settler, but, as Mr Semple states, the policy of the Labour Government has introduced a new factor.

In areas where large numbers of natives do not meet rating commitments the burden of maintaining roads and other public facilities falls heavily upon the European population. Now, the Minister says, the Maori has been placed on equality with Europeans with regard to the payment of wages and in other ways, and the Maori must be expected to meet his rate payments. Elevation of the Maori to the European standard has not, however, completely solved the problem, and the county councils will welcome a close review of the position.

It must be remembered that it is the Maori farmer rather than the wage-earner who has to pay rates to the local bodies, so that the mere advance of the wages paid to the Maoris has not materially altered the position. Ability to pay rates depends mostly on the Maori farmers’ ability to farm successfully. In this respect the Maori is still at a considerable disadvantage yid will require further help and encouragement before he can become as successful as the European as a farmer. He has not long been introduced to the present system of agriculture, while the European has centuries of tradition behind him. Certainly the Maori should bear his share of the cost of reading wherever -possible, but in the meantime many European settlers in some counties are being forced to carry an unduly heavy burden of rates. \