NATIVE LANDS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4818, 2 August 1939, Page 5

NATIVE LANDS

RATING PROBLEM. COUNTIES' POLICY DEFINED. The policy to be pursued by the New Zealand Counties' Association was defined in a comprehensive remit adopted by the biennial conference. The remit was as follows: "That the policy of the Association in matters relating to native rates shall be: (1) That the Government be requested to amend the Rating Act, 1925 i, by deleting sub-sections (2), (3), (4), (5), and substituting therefor the following: With regard to the rates due on native lands, where it is sought to recover the rates from the owners or beneficial owners, the local authorities shall submit certified lists of rates outstanding on native lands at March 31 in each year to the Native Department, which, if it is satisfied, after giving the owner an opportunity of presenting his side of the case, that such rates are. due, shall without further cost to the local authorities, register liens for such rates against the titles of all such lands, and be responsible for the full rates, unless in the joint opinion of the Department of Native Affairs and the county council or other rating authority concerned, the productivity of the property does not warrant such payment, but only portion thereof.

"2. That the Native Department, on assuming control of native lands for development purposes, be made responsible for payment of 50 per cent, of the total rates then due, and thereafter during the progress of development work rates be paid on the basis of 50 per cent, for the first year and increasing by 12% per cent, each year until the full amount charged annually is payable.

"3. That in connection with native land with potentialities for future development, the Government be asked to make an annual grant to the county councils concerned to 25 per cent of the value of the total rates levied on such lands, until productively developed."