NATIVE RATES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 229, 27 August 1937, Page 8

NATIVE RATES.

COUNTIES’ PROPOSALS.

TO RELIEVE BURDEN

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 26

Native lands and rates were discussed by the New Zealand Counties Association at the biennial conference today. It was decided to ask the Government to make certain deletions from the Rating Act and substitute the following clauses with regard to rates due on native lands: “Where it is sought to recover rates from owners or beneficial owners local authorities shall submit certified_ lists of the rates outstanding on native lands at March 31 in each year to the Native Department which, if is satisfied tbe rates are due, shall without further cost to the local authorities register liens for such rates against the titles of all such lands.” . .. The position at present is that application has to be made to the Court for a charging order. The conference also decided to urge that, where the Native Department had assumed or was assuming control of native lands for development purposes, the department should be made responsible for the payment of 50 per cent, of all rates then due, such percentage thereafter to be increased by 12J per cent, until the full rate charge was annually payable. Air C. Alatthews (Gisborne) said the problem of unpaid native rates was a. serious one, particularly in the North Island. One .county on the ea6t coast had had to put in a commission, merely because native rates were not collectable.