RATING OF CROWN LANDS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20910, 18 July 1933, Page 10

RATING OF CROWN LANDS.

LOCAL BODIES' CASE.

CITY COUNCIL'S REPRESENTATIVES. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) and Mr J. McCombs, M.P. were appointed by the Christchurch City Council last night to represent it on a delegation which will place the attitude of local bodies towards the rating of Crown lands before a Parliamentary committee. The finance committee of the council reported having received a circular letter from the Wairoa Harbour Board which described a conference of local authorities of the North Island, held at. Wairoa on Saturday, June 10, to consider the Crown's liability for rates. Five Resolutions. The following resolutions were passed by the conference:— "That all occupied Crown lands, including lands being farmed by the Crown, be rateable for all rates, and that the statutory provisions for collection of rates in respect of lands owned or occupied by private persons be applicable to such Crown lands." "That all rates levied on lands mortgaged to the Crown and any of its departments be collectable in the same manner and with the same statutory powers as rates levied on lands mortgaged to private persons." "That a local body shall have the right to set ofi" against moneys owing to the Crown or any of its departments all rates owing to the local body in respect of Crown lands or lands mortgaged to the Crown or any of its departments." "That this conference asks for additional statutory authority to distrain on stock and chattels in priority to landlord's right of distress, including the Crown, or any of its departments." "In nil cases of unoccupied Crown or native lands the local authorities in that area be a committee with the Commissioner of Crown Lands, or Registrar of the Native Land Court, as the case mav be, for the purpose of leasing to rover the rate charges on those lands."