THE RATING ACT.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7363, 16 July 1889, Page 6

THE RATING ACT.

[By Telegraph.] [fbom ouk correspondent.] WELLINGTON, July 15. It was announced a few days ago that Government had no intention of amending the Sating Act this session. Another effort is to be made to induce them to take some action, and on the House meeting to-morrow Mr Cadman is to present a petition from upwards of 300 leading business men of Auckland praying that the Act may be so amended a 3 to prevent local bodies selling land for rates without giving reasonable notice to the owners. The petition will, in the ordinary course, be referred to the Petitions Committee, who will probably recommend the Government to introduce a measure giving effect to the prayer of the petitions. The Hating Act makes no provision to compel local bodies to use reasonable means—such as search of the Deeds Oifice —of ascertaining who is the owner of the land on which rates are due. In the petition which has been forwarded to Mr Cadman for presentation several suggestions are made as to the course amendments of the Act should take. It is proposed, inter alia, that the local body should be compelled to serve a notice on the last registered proprietor of the land, search for title being made by the local body, before judgment is recorded, and one month to elapse between the issuing of the summons against the " owner," and the hearing of the case. It is also proposed that a due memorandum of such judgment shall be preserved with the Registrar of Deeds for the district, so as to give publicity to the fact that the property is liable for judgment; that all judgments now outstanding be forwarded to the Registrar of Deeds within six months from date of the Act, or else lapse, and that an absolute indefeasible title shall be given to a purchaser or lessee of any land under the Rating Act.