A RATING PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 79, 30 September 1918, Page 8

A RATING PROBLEM

QUESTION OP OCCUPATION

A- case affecting rating on Crown land in the, occupation of a farmer holding ifc under a grazing permit issued" by the Wellington Land Board came-before the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) in the Supreme Court to-day. The case r was that of Peter Sharpe, farmer, Petone, y. the Hutt Road Board, and it was an appeal from the decision of Messrs. G. A. Chapman and A. Y. Lees, Justices of the Peace, given in the Magistrate's Court, Lower Hutt, on 7th August last. On that occasion the board claimed from Sharpe £4 5s 6d, alleged to be owing for rates due on Ist December, 1917',- on part of section 8,. Hutt district, portion of the Wilford Settlement -which, was acquired by the Government. Sharpe, who was in occupation before the Crown acquired the land, was allowed to continue in occupation of the unsold .'portions of the land at a rental of 30s per week; a weekly tenancy. Then, on 22nd December, 1915, the Wellington Land Board granted Sharpe a permit .to graze, and to occupy the house on the property at a rental of £190 per annum; a yearlytenancy, subject to six months' notice of determination. v

It was contended on behalf of Sharpe that, for the purposes of the Rating Act, 1908, he was not the." occupier "of the land for the reasons: (a) That the said land being Crown land, Sharpe was not the lessee or licensee thereof, and (b) if Sharpe was duly holding the land under the grazing permit, then, under section 40 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1914, he was not the " occupier " within, the meaning-of the Rating Act of 1908. The justices gave judgment for the board for. the amount claimed, and against this.decision "appeal was lodged..

Mr. H. E. Evans appeared for Sharpe, the appellant, and the respondent board was represented by Mr. E. P. Bunny.

(Proceeding.)