MAORI LANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 296, 15 December 1933, Page 2

MAORI LANDS.

COLLECTION OF RATES LEGISLATION INTRODUCED. CHARGE AGAINST REVENTTE. (By Telegraph. —Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Legislative effect to the main recommendations of the committee which investigated the native rating problem in New Zealand ie given by a comprehensive amendment to the Rating Act, which was introduced into the House yesterday. Read a second time pro forma, the measure was referred to the Native Affaire Committee, and this body will hold a special meeting on Monday to enable representations from, interested local authorities to be heard. The bill, the provisions of which will become operative as from April 1, 1934, inaugurates , the system under which payment of rates will be a charge against the revenue of the land. This applies to areas utilised for the production for sale of dai>-y produce, wool, crops, etc., the contention being that, ae the Maoris use the roade for the transport of their produce, they should be equally liable for rates as are Europeans, and that they should pay them out of the proceeds of their produce. Accordingly, the bill empowers local authorities to serve notices on dairy companies, mercantile agents and security grantees, to whom produce is eold or delivered, and these notifications will constitute a charge, to the amount of the rates specified in them, on the revenue then or in the future due to the native taxpayers from the sale of their produce. The local authorities will be entitled to collect or recover the money from the agents mentioned, the latter being entitled to deduct reasonable costs and expenses incurred, and to collect from the local bodies a commission of 2$ per cent to defray the cost of keeping necessary records and accounts. Where produce pay-outs are made on a periodical basis, the rate requirements can be met by appropriate instalments, which are not to exceed one-quarter of the total revenue due to the taxpayer. > First After Living Expenses. In connection with native lands which are being utilised for development purposes, the bill empowers the Minister of Finance to direct that, after reasonable living expenses have been provided for, half of the rates payable be a first charge on the revenue of the land. The intention is that the proportion should gradually increase during three years until the full rates are payable. Another provision is that-native lands situated in boroughg or town districts and which are non-revenue-producing, will, while remaining in that state, be liable for half rates only. Special exemption is provided for individual areas, not exceeding five acres, occupied, as a p'apakainga, or general dwelling place. Experience has shown that where Maoris are living together in kaingas they are usually of the poorer class, with no fixed income, and they obtain their livelihood as best they can. The investigating committee found that the local authorities were not concerned so much with this class of native as with the one who owned farming or productive lands. Valuation Rolls. Under other clauses provision is made for the insertion in the owners' column of a valuation roll of one name under the title, "nominated Maori owner" or "nominated Maori occupier," in cases where land ie owned or occupied ill common and not vested in a trustee. It has been held that the entry of "Natives" in the owners' column gave no assistance toward the collection of rates, and it is believed that with the change proposed collections will he facilitated. If the rates are paid, the nominated owner or occupier will have voting rights, and this, it is calculated, will provide an incentive to see that rates are forthcoming. The Registrar of the Native Land Court is called upon to supply the Valuer-General and the local bodies with the information necessary to keep the names up to date. Upon the same official is also placed the duty of supplying local authorities with a list of all partitions and alienation?, and the local authorities are empowered to amend their rate rolls accordingly, and to apportion the rates owing as between two or more parcels into which the land has been partitioned. New provisions are made with respect to voting rights of land owned by two or mo persons in common. The vote will be exercised by the occupier, and if there is no occupier, by the person whose name is entered on the roll as the nominated occupier. If there is more than one nominated occupier, the vote may be exercised by one as a result of agreement.