NATIVE LAND AND RATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 114, 15 May 1924, Page 7

NATIVE LAND AND RATES.

(From Our Osrn Correspondent.) i TE AWAHUTU, Tuesday. The Waipa County Council devoted some little time at yesterday's meeting to a letter received from the Bay of Islands county council. The letter advised that a conference of local bodies' delegates will be held in Auckland on Friday. 23rd inst., to consider what steps should* be taken in regard to non-payment of soldiers' rates and the rating of Native lands. A similar communication was also received from Te Kultl and advising that a conference would be held there on the 28th inst. Cr. W. Alexander said he would like to see the chairman attend the conference as both Orakau and Kakipuku ridings were In a similar position to the King Country local bodies. While in Wellington recently he had discussed the matter with Sir Maul I'omare and the Hon. A. T. Ngata and both gave him to understand they would strenuously oppose the imposition of rating penalties upon Native lauds. They were willinjr.nowever. to contribute to hospital maintenance. The speaker said the Maoris worked for the council and used the roads, but would not contribute towards the upkeep of those roads. The present position was unfair to Kuropean settlors, as Native lands were the for rabbits and noxious weeds. Both his own and Orakau ridings were handicapped by these disadvantages and he wanted an alteration of the legislation as soon as possible. The chairman said ho would attend the conference If at nil possible but in the event of being unnhlp he would depute Cγ. Alexander to attend. This met with the unanimous approval of the council.