The Opunake Times. TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1894. NATIVE RATES.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 7, 24 July 1894, Page 2

The Opunake Times. TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1894. NATIVE RATES.

This is a subject which is enshrouded in a considerable amount of mystery, like most others which are in any way connected with the Native Department. Dealing with the matter as we find it applied in our district, we consider it is on anything but a satisfactory footing. For some years past a certain amount has been paid by the Government for rales on unoccupied native lands, ai:d wo would naturally expect that the local bodies would receive such amount for expenditure on road* for the benefit of these lands. We are informed by the chairman of the Parihaka Road- Board that recently several native leaseholders applied to the Public Trustee to do something to the roads leading to their sections, so as to give access to them. In reply, they were referred to the Eoad Board, to whom it is alleged rate i on behalf of the land had been paid. The Board not having received any such rates for the past three years, instituted inquiries, and found, after a great deal of correspondence, that the rates had been paid—not to the Board, but to the Property Tax Department iu repayment of some antiquated previous adv.mc:s. -Considering that there is no land fund accruing to these roads, if this is the way the rate revenue is to be applied it will be heaven help the settlers. Again, we hear that in many instances when the natives came to draw rents foi? lands leased by the Public Trustee on their behalf, they found that nearly the whole of the rent had already been diverted to pay up old claims on account of rates paid. Such action wo consider as extremely hard on the natives, and a great injustice to them. For years they have been debarred from dea'iug in any way with their lands, aud were therefore compelled to let them lie idle. In a few instances people risked it, and negotiated with them, thus affording them a litde revenue ; but what a risk it was has been shown in Mr McCallum's case at Eahota, and several others of a like nature in the district. We cannot see how it can be considered fair to prevent from using their property, and at the same time accumulating a charge for rates on it. It was to give effect to what the Government considered (he best method of dealing with native land and the native question that they kept the land locked up, and possibly iu this respect they were wise. It was also in order to be able to carry out this policy, and to resist the pressure of the people who had land adjoining, that a sop was given tbem through the local bodies in the shape of native rates. Now, however, that everything is running smoothly, aud settlement progressing, we think that the -Government might, in a true sense of justice, regard such native rates as subsidies to local bodes, and cancel the liabitities of native owners.