LAND RATING ACT.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 55, 18 October 1887, Page 2

LAND RATING ACT.

Ths intimation contained in Mr Graham’s letter to the County Council regarding the abolishing of payments to local bodies under the Crown and Native Lands Act is of serious moment to us in this district.

Were such a proposal to be carried into effect it would mean a loss to the County Council of~per annum and to the Borough Council and Road Boards of about /"goo a year. This is evidently to form a part of the retrenchment policy of the Government, and such being the case it is a certainty that no compensating measure will be brought before the House. At the present time the rates received from Native Lands amount to /’BOO a year. These are paid by the Government who recoup themselves by making the charge a lien upon the land. The Crown land rates are paid on a claim

being made by the Council. Going a little outside the question before us it is of interest to know that the Government have advanced somewhere about to the local bodies throughout the Colony as native rates, but owing to their own absurd native land legislation they have only been able to recoup themselves to the extent of a few pounds. This will be easily understood when it is known that the rates are only to be paid by the Natives on the disposal of the lands. The present Act forbids any transactions in native land, and consequently the Colony has been deprived of a large revenue. Let us look at tne effect the repeal of the Crown and Native Lands Act would have upon this district. There are 60 or 70 miles of roads in the County outside the limit of settlement, and the rates raised on lands adjacent to - the roads is barely sufficient to maintain them, As a matter or fact, if we take the the expenditure of the last four years as a guide, the Council have, during that time, spent £l2O out of their ordinary rates to make the roads fit for traffic. This being the case these roads must necessarily be wholly neglected if the Government retrench in the manner predicted.

Then there is the fear that it is the intention of Ministers to abolish the subsidies payable to local bodies. This would deprive the County Council of revenue amounting to about £ 1600. Deducting these sums the County Council would be left with their ordinary revenue (.£5,300), a sum quite insufficient for the carrying on of works necessary for the progress of the County. It should not be forgotten that the Crown and Native lands only within a

radius of five miles of a road or track are liable to bs rated, and that there are now, 350,000 acres of Crown and Native lands in the East Coast which does not contribute one p inny towards the revenue of any local body. ■Taking these things into Consideration only one conclusion can be arrived at, and that is that if the Government cut off the help at present extended to the County Council by the Act in question it will be a step in the wrong direction, for it would practically mean the closing of the roads outside the present limits of settlement. The County Clerk is forwarding Mr Graham every information on the subject, and no doubt he will make a vigourous remonstrance against the adoption of such a proposal. We have suffered quite enough in the past from a systematic neglect, and instead of taking assistance from it should be extended to us.