SOLDIER SETTLERS AND RATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 132, 5 June 1926, Page 14

SOLDIER SETTLERS AND RATES.

MAKING THEM PAT. "WE WA?JT YOU TO SUE US." (From Our Own Correspondent.) MOKRINSVILLE, Friday. A statement concerning the Piako County Council's attitude in connection with "the rates of assisted discharged soldier eettlers was made by the county chairman (Mr. W. R. Lowry) at a meeting of Kereone settlers, when Mr. Lowry said thst some of those on the settlement owed rates for three years, amounting to £271 9/. This did not include those with rates in arrears for one and two years. The council was going to collect the rates, and in a few days summonses would be issued for even last year's rates. A voice: Can you make the soldiers pay ? Mr. Lowry: Yes. We are going to treat civilians and soldiers alike. He added that some civilians quite well-off were not paying their rates. Mr. W. McLean (Walton Riding member) : How many men on the settlement were eligible to vote at the last election ? Mr. Davies: Two. We want you to sue us. Mr. Lowry: You'll get that all right. Mr. McLean said that the council had power to sue the soldiers, but did not have power to load the land. If a soldier were sued, the Government would put him off the land, but the council did not have this in writing. At a, meeting of the Wairere settlers, in the morning, Mr. Lowry pointed out the serious position regarding rates, and eaid that some of the settlers had never paid their rates. It was stated that some of the returned soldiers there were not in a position to pay, as they were on unim-; proved land, and up to the present they had received no returns. Mr. Lowry advised them to ask the Government for some relief. The meeting decided not to go on with a roading scheme for which they had petitioned the council, but to ask the Government to metal the roads.