WAITOMO COUNTY

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4810, 14 July 1939, Page 5

WAITOMO COUNTY

CROWN AND NATIVE RATING. RAGWORT CONTROL SCHEME. The monthly meeting of the Waitomo County Council was commenced in the Council Chambers this morning, there being present Crs. W. A. Lee, chairman, J. Georgetti, C. Roberts, G. W. Crocombe, L. Laurenson, G. P. Webster, A. Smith, J. K. Black, also the clerk, Mr. J. N. O'Brien, and the engineer, Mr. R. H. Browne.

The Auckland branch of the Farmers' Union wrote asking the extent to which the failure of the Crown to pay rates curtailed the County revenue. These particulars are to be supplied to the Union in respect of land which had been at one time in occupation. The chairman, Mr. Lee, said that the County should urge to the Union that where unoccupied land was taken up for development, the Crown should not be immeditelay called upon to pay general rates, which, however, be paid when development was further advanced. This would accord with the Council's policy on this matter.

A request from the Farmers' Union that the disqualification of defaulting ratepayers be removed, however, was not favoured. The chairman said disqualification might mean that the Maoris, who paid no rates, might assume control of certain County Councils. Other anomalies that would arise were mentioned, and though Cr. Laurenson said that a defaulting- ratepayer unwilling to assume further responsibilities had no say in a special loan poll under the present system, the granting of voting rights to defaulting ratepayers was not favoured. The heed for a pre-arranged statement of the problems of native rating at the Counties' Conference was stressed in a letter received from the North Auckland Counties'Association. Representatives of all County Councils affected should, it was held, bring all possible pressure to the Counties' Conference, in order that the seriousness of the subject might be brought home to the Government. The chairman said that the Waitomo Council had prepared very full data on this matter for presentation to the Acting Minister of Lands. It was decided to acknowledge and express thanks to the Counties' Association for the interest taken.

. The Department of Agriculture forwarded advice regarding the Government scheme for ragwort control for the coming season. A new power granted was for the provision to outback settlers of sodium and lime mixture at reduced prices so that areas which could not receive attention under the gang system could be treated. This procedure will be subject to the approval of the Department in each case.

The Council decided to apply for ; the same grant as last year, £2600, • to enable it to carry on this work.