NATIVE RATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19808, 1 December 1927, Page 14

NATIVE RATES.

Sir, —So Mri Joseph Thornes "relucttantly" comos to tho conclusion that the legislation framed in this connection will not meet the requirements of those determined to obtain payment of native rates ! Here we are dealing with a native people largely stilt in an uneconomic position to meet such a liability. They have neither ready money to pay rates nor is the land bringing in any attachable revenue to the advantage either of the owner or the ratecollecting local body concerned. The past history of the native land question shows that'this problem is, however, gradually being achieved, and annually large areas, by lease or sale, ara becoming rate-pro-ducing. Then, again, largo areas ' of unalienated native lands—to my personal knowledge—are actually paying rates, Mr. Thornes would have us believe that no native land pays rates, and that the Maori is a _ consistent passive resister to such a liability. If he cares to mako careful inciuirv he will find that in every local bodv area, native land rates constitute a large Proportion of the actual revenue. Where such rates remain 4 unpaid the reason will always bo found to be the absolute inability of the owners to pay. If Mr. Thornes will travel through the native districts and visit native homes and there gain personal knowledge of actual conditions, I am sure he would no longer champion, a confiscatory policy in this matter. For there are hundreds of Maori homes where the struggle for existence is a stern and real one, and this in the face of a total lack of financial resources such as the State Advances to Settlers Office affords his European neighbours, but does not provide the Maori landowner. The legislation now approved is intended as a fair solution of this problem. The safeguards intended to prevent undue hardship are only right and proper, and are only such as are usual in dealing with interest* of our aboriginal people as a matter of public policy. I would suggest that Mr. Thornes suspend his judgment and see how the new legislation works before condemning it in advance of its having a fair trial. Would Mr. Thornes agree to this amendment to the Act: That everv native owner of a block of land be enrolled as a ratepayer, therehv allowing the Maoris to be represented at all locil bodv elections in their full numerical strength ? Does it occur to Mr. Thornes that at the present time this is not so, and that, therefore the Maori, as a ratepayer, has but a very limited voice in the disbursement of local body funds ? How would Mr. Thornes like to be in that condition of political disnfciHty I GEO. GR/HAM.