EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 172, 21 July 1921, Page 8

EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT.

LIABILITY TO RATING. : (By Telejrrapii—Tress Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Fall Court reserved its decision in the case brought under the Declaratory Judgments Act, 190S, for the purpose of determining whether land in the estate of Josiah Howard, now held by the Public Trustee in trust for His Majesty the provided in the Howard Kstate Ace, 101., is liable for rates under the Bating Act, 1908.. The land, consisting of about 7400 acres, is held by the Public Trustee in trust for the Crown as a permanent endowment for purposes of agricultural education. Mr. Martin submitted that as the land was not held for the use and service of the Crown it was not exempt from rates. He submitted further that the land did not belong to the Crown, but that the Crown was one trustee. The definition of owner under the Rating- Act must be said to apply to the Public Trustee. The word "vested," in section 2 of the Eating Act, meant "legally vested," and as the land was legally, vested in the Public Trustee he was liable for rates. Mr. McGregor, after replying to the arguments of Mr. Martin, said he adopted the argument put forward by counsel for the Public Trustee.