EATING NATIVE LANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17461, 4 May 1920, Page 6

EATING NATIVE LANDS.

DIFFICULTIES OF COLLECTION

LEGISLATION ADVOCATED.

The questiftn of rating of native lands was considered at the last meeting of the Hokianga County Council, and as the outcome a letter has been sent to the Prime Minister urging that the law be amended next session to enable local bodies to enforce payment of rates on such lands as in the case of European holdings. The letter to Mr. Maffiey states:—

" During the 1918 session we senl, i petition to Parliament on this matter. The Lands Committee recommended the petition to the Government for favourable consideration. The report of the Lands Committee was, on your own suggestion, referred to the Native Affairs Committee for consideration. This apparently was the end of it, as nothing has been done since in the matter. During the last seven rates struck on native lands in the Hokianga County amounted to £14,483, out of which we have only been able to collect £674, as follows:—

"We think you will admit this is a most unsatisfactory state of affairs, especially when you consider that the native are on the same footing as Europeans in other respects. For instance, under the present Act, they could nominate candidate for councillors, and, owing to the large number of them, could easily elect a native council to control the country."

Ywen&d Total Amount March 81. Hat«e. Collected. 1914 .. i. £1.738 £S0 1915 .. k . 1.655 101 1913 .. .. 1.7S2 143 1917 ., .. 1,552 71 * 1918 ., .. 2,037 64 1913 .. .. 2.890 177 1920 .. .. 2.831 38