TOO MUCH POWER?

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 117, 20 May 1933, Page 7

TOO MUCH POWER?

NATIVE MINISTER

LOCAL BODIES' CONTENTION.

MAORI RATING QUESTION.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

GISBOR2CE, this day,

Outstanding features of the representations made to the Xative Land Bating Commission in Gisborne yesterday by couiisel for various local bodies were the need for simplification of the procedure in collecting rates on native land, and a severe curtailment of the powers now held by the Xatiye Minister.

Mr. L. T. Burnard, appearing on behalf 6f the Waikohu County Council, drew attention to the difference in the procedure for the collection of European and native rates, stating that in the latter ease there were moat cumbersome formalities. A delay of twelve months might take place before the sta-re was reached where the land of a defaulting ratepayer could be vested in the Native Trustee for the purpose of sale, and even then a sale could only eventuate with the consent of the Minister. The experience of local bodies was that the difficulties were virtually insurmountable. In this district local bodies had been informed that it was no use to apply for orders, as they would not be granted.

"Unfair to Europeans." The remedy, he submitted, was to abolish the present system and provide for the collection of native rates as nearly as possible on the same basis as European. Native land received exactly the same benefits as European, and it was quite unfair that an additional burden, due to non-payment of native rates, should be thrown upon the European owners.

Two particular points mentioned by Mr. Burnard were that even when native land was leased to Europeans the rates were not secured, and that large areas of native land vested in trustees was

not now paying' rates. He submitted detailed proposals for remedying the position. Discretionary Power. Supporting Mr. Burnard's contentions, Mr. D. E. Chrisp, representing the Gisborne Borough Council, said the discretionary powers of the Minister should be done away with. The Native Minister, he said, was so closely .allied with the interests of those whose lands were affected that lie was the last man who should properly have the power of veto ill respect of proceedings for the recovery of rates. Mr. G. I. Parker, on behalf of the Cook County Council," argued that the national subsidy of native rates was inequitable, and that native llnds should be placed on the same basis as European, to can y their share of the, rating burden. 110 agreed with other counsel that unproductive native land should be exempted from the valuation roll, but all other native land should be liable, and provision should be made for enforcing the payment of rates. The chairman of the commission, Mr. A. D. McLeod, gave a general indication of the detailed information and statistics which lie and his colleagues required.