NATIVE RATES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 50, 27 August 1937, Page 10

NATIVE RATES

COUNTIES' ANXIETY

I The problem of unpaid Native rates was considered by the New Zealand Counties' Association conference yesterday. It was recommended by a committee that, where it was sought to recover the rates from the owners or beneficial owners, the local authorities should submit certified lists of rates outstanding on Native lands at March 31 in each year to the Native Department, which if satisfied that such rates are due, should, without further cost to the local authorities, register liens for such rates against the titles of all the lands. The position today .is that a claim for rates maybe made within two years, such claims to be treated as applications for, charging orders. If the Court is satisfied that the rates iare payable, it may make an order granting a charge over the land in favour of the local authority, and may be registered against the title. In regard to Native land development schemes, it was suggested that where the Native Department had assumed, or was assuming, control of Native lands for development purposes, the Department should be made responsible for payment of 50 per cent, of all rates then. due, such percentage thereafter to be increased annually by 12i per cent, until the full rate charged was annually payable. The report was adopted.