RIGHT IN LAW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 139, 15 June 1939, Page 12

RIGHT IN LAW.

" BUT NOT JUSTICE." FULL PAYMENT OF RATES. LAND TAKEN BY STATE. "These | ••••>} >1«* nrc legally houud to pay tin- lull rate*, hut they an* certainly not iniually hound to do <0," *aid Mr. I!, (iluijrnw. a member of the Waitemata County Council. this morning, in reply to representations made hy a deputation of ii\t> ratepayers. "rin- ratepayer* wcic upcakini: on behalf of others «liinc lan.l had heeii taken under tlie Public Works Art in older to construct tln* Whenuapai aerodrome. The deputation asked that those affected should not lie compelled to pay ratcrt for the fill! vear.

It was decided that the matter be left in abeyance until the chairman. Mr. S. Phillips, who is shortly to visit Wellington on another matter, has interviewed the appropriate authorities there on the subject. The spokesman, Mr. ('. Macdonald. said that the laud had been taken without, so much as "by your lea\e" I-i*t May. Government officials had walked on the land, and told those who had been the owners up to that moment 'hat % y were tresiKissiiig. The officials h,..| taken down fences, and allowed t lit* stock of the different owners to wander anywhere and everywhere.

He did not think that those farmers should Is* asked to pay rates for the balance of the year. Ratepayers look • to local boilies and to the Government for an example in fair dealing. It would not be fair dealing if a full yjar's rates were demanded. Mr. Phillips: The council is of thit view, Mr. Macdonald. You need 101 labour that point. It is a question of how we can do it. Mr. E. C. Rawle. assistant- county clerk, stated the legal |w»sition. He said that the council was compelled to collect the full year's rates, otherwise the council's accounts would not lie passed by the Audit Department. He explained that the rates were cast a* from the end «-t March in one year to the same time in the next. The ratepayers, therefore, would have been in possession of their land for some two months only.

Mr. C. A. Cawkwell said that the only grounds on which rates might legally be remitted were those of poverty -or hardship. Iu his view the present instance constituted hardship, but it was open to doubt whether the Audit Department would take the same view. However, the chairu.au was going to Wellington shortly on another ni-it-ter. and he could contact the auth irities there. The matter might be .'leld over until the result of that discus*i)ii was known. This suggestion was adopted.