RATING OF LANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 178, 29 July 1893, Page 5

RATING OF LANDS.

THE NEW BILL.

IMPORTANT PROPOSALS.

EATING- NATIVE LANDS.

(BY TELEGRAPIC-PAKIJAMENTARY

BEPOR'TES.)

Wellington, this day. Shim are important) rating proposals in ftißating Acta Amendment Bill to bointroJiMd by the Colonial Treasurer. Ib emJodiesa new policy of the Government on Smabiocb of rating native a.-d otner kadi ID is divided into three parts, anil Wains 26 clauses. The first part deals Siththe general amendments in the Bating Acta, the principal of these being that in tare local bodies are to make their own Moments, thab the County roll shall U the standard from which all other mill in khe country shall be framed, *twhen the Counties Act ia nob in force tteßoad Board roll shall be the standard ; that separate rolls shall be compiled for the Purposes of special rates; that property ■hall be assessed on the capital value, and 'tabpastoral Crown Landa shall be valued '»the same way as other rateable Crown lends. The second part of the Bill, which "devoted to the question of the rating of Natire Lands, provides thab from the lsb April, 1894, Native Lands shall be rate"Ma property under the Acts in force ttß«lating tha making, levying, or re«OTory of rfttes in any rating dis'fc This includes ail Native Land ■"W under title by any one or occupied Wany person nob a relative, but no native "•diballbe liable to be rated for special jJtoonlßßß the title has been individualised. "''following native lands are completely ttempted from the rating, viz.:—All lands ""» than live rniiea from any highway "Pan for horse traffic ; all land occupied by 'a|iv9 houses or wkares, and all landa in jj' counting of Kawhia, Taupo West, *a»po East, Sounds and Fiords. No to&n lands shall be sold for non-payment f rates unless sanctioned after enquiry by I"BTrust Commissioner under the Native {*n]b Frauds Prevention Ace. Part ' M the Bill introduces the principle ''rating on the unimproved value of land to the absolute exemption of all improveJ""**. This is done by amending Section b} the Rating Act, 1882, so that the de™'tion of rateable property shall read, 'Without buildings and improvements thereon." The definition of "rateable '•W'ia to be repealed. The rating or "."improved value is to be carried out on 'uslocal option principle, lb is provided tllat a poll of ratepayers may take place *'cry two years on the question whether or J ok property in city, borough, county or district shall hunceforth be rated upon w basis of the unimproved value. It is Imposed to be carried by the same majority J) is now required to carry a special loan. rto rats on the unimproved valuo of the shall not exceed threepence in the JOQnd, When this part of tho Act is in Jtcein any city, borough, county, or town •''Met, all rates of other local bodies in !° 98atne district are to be* levied and col*M in the iaaa wannor.