UNPAID RATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 135, 10 June 1933, Page 7

UNPAID RATES.

A BIG OFFENDER.

GOVERNMENT MORTGAGES.

«WHY ATTACK MAORIS."

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WHANGAREI, this day.

I Criticism of the Government's action I in sending a committee to investigate native rates throughout the North Island was made by Mr. L. Webb, chairman of the Whangarei County Council, at a meeting held yesterday. Mr. Webb said he thought one of the first things the Government should have j done was to make it possible for councils to collect rates from Crown mortgagees before it attacked the Maoris. He knew i of natives who were milking six or seven cows in an endeavour to keep the wolf from tho door, whereas, he alleged, there were Crown settlers milking 80 or 90 cows who made no effort to pay their rates, yet the Government attacked the poor natives. "I know of a road," Mr. Webb added, "where a man, surrounded 'by Crown settlers, has had to pay the whole of the loan rating of £400 on that road." Mr. J. A. S. McKay said the question of native rates was very important, just as important as the question of Crown settlers, and he thought the Government was wise in attempting to clear up the position. Some of the wealthiest people in New Zealand were Maoris, and men with incomes running into thousands of pounds a year should not be allowed to escape rates. His view was shared by Mr. T. N. Blake.