LIABILITY FOR RATES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 131, 30 November 1933, Page 15

LIABILITY FOR RATES

CROWN PROPERTIES

STRAIN ON COUNTIES

The New Zealand Counties' Association aud the New Zealand Municipal Association are again endeavouring to get tho Government to accept the same liability for rates on its country and town properties as a private mortgagee.

"Until about eight or nine years ago the Crown, accepted liability for unpaid rates on its properties," says the latest. Farmers' Union .bulletin, "but an Appeal Court case with the Waitoino County Council decided' that h mortgagee of leased lands was not responsible for rates, aud another Appeal Court, case with the Inglewood Borough Council decided \that f tho Crown wa-s not responsible for tiny' rates other than special rates struck before the Crpwn acquired the property. Moreover, in tho definition of 'rateable property' in section 2 of the Eating Act, 1925, there is the following exennption from rates:—'Lands vested in his Majesty, of. which ■ there is n-ot an owner or occupier.' • ;''

"At the present tiino.it is very difficult to obtain rates -from settlers on Crown properties,' so that' the ' finances of several county councils are being severely strained to keep going. In addition, some county councils have borrowed from Hje 'State Advances De■partmenti for special works in their districts, and Jiave ■ struck their special rates accordingly.. Owing to many of their ratepayers, including Crown tenants, not paying their share of these it is impossible for county councils, to make their auuual repayments to the Department; "Consequently threats of, action in one or "two counties are 'in the air,' and this seems unreasonable when the Crown or its occupiers are amongst the negligent culprits."