LOCAL BODY RATING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21717, 5 February 1934, Page 5

LOCAL BODY RATING

# • POSITION OF MAORIS BILL DURING NEXT SESSION [from out? own corespondent] WHANOAREI. Sunday In an interview last- evening, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, who spent the night at Whangarci, en route to Waitangi, referred to tho native rating questiqn. Mr. Forbes said the finding of the commission had been circulated among tho Maoris merely to give them information on thtf question, and to afford them every opportunity of expressing an opinion. "Both the native rating and local body rating questions nro very difficult," said Mr. Forbes, "and the commission's finding is not tho last word. It is important, however, to keep in view tho economic position of the Maoris, nncL in any moasuro which will place local uody rating i:a a satisfactory position, it is necessary not to put too heavy a burden on tho Maori population. "The native rating question will bo tho subject of discussion with the Maoris during the Waitangi celebrations, and it is the inte:ntiOu of tho Government to place a bill before the House next session dealing with the whole matter." concluded Mr. Forbes.