UNPAID NATIVE RATES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22182, 27 August 1937, Page 10

UNPAID NATIVE RATES

Amendment tp Act Suggested

DECISION OF COUNTIES' ASSOCIATION

(press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, August 26. Native lands and rates were discussed at the biennial conference of the Counties' Association to-day. It was decided to ask the Government to make certain deletions from the Rating Act, and substitute the following clause concerning rates due on native lands: "Where it is sought to recover rates from owners or beneficial owners, local authorities shall submit certified lists of rates outstanding on native lands at March 31 in each year to the Native Department which, if it is satisfied the rates are due, shall without further cost to the local authorities register liens for such rates against the titles of all such lands." At present application has to be made to the Court for a charging order. The conference also decided to urge that where the Native Department had assumed or was assuming control of native lands for development purposes, the department should be made responsible for the payment of 50 per cent, of all rates when due, such percentage thereafter to be increased annually by 12£ per cent, until the full rate charge was annually payable. Mr C. Matthews, Gisborne, said the problem of unpaid native rates was a serious one, particularly in the North Island. One county on the East Coast had had to put in a commission merely because native rates were not collectable.