Mr C. E. Major, M.H.R., at OPUNAKE.

Opunake Times, Volume XXI, Issue 749, 20 June 1905, Page 2

Mr C. E. Major, M.H.R., at OPUNAKE.

DEPUTATIONS. NATIVE LAND BATING ACT. Mr Dudley said it was perhaps not quite in order, but there was one question he would like to ask with respect to the Native Eating Act. At your meeting last night (Tuesday) you informed us that all native lands were subject to rates and the local bodies could recover ? Mr Major said that was so and quoted from the Act showing that land within five miles of a borough, and ten miles of a county road were liable for rates. Mr Dudley said the Public Trustee will only be liable to the extent of the amount of money he has in hand. Mr Major was of opinion that " any native land " held by Europeans and reverted back to the Natives was liable for all rates. The reason that sub-section 8, clause 2, was inserted in the Bill was to protect the Public Trustee's office in so far as it was concerned. It did not lessen liability.

Mr Dudley said the County Council had billed a European holder for £l6O for rates and the reply was that he was not liable.

Mr Brennan: Supposing that a native owner of land is rated, say, to the amount of £5. He does not pay the amount. The Egmont County Council sue him, get judgment for the amount of rates sued for. Destraint. What is the Council to destraint upon to get the money. According to my view he is protected. At most, the judgment can only be delayed. In other words: Can you get behind the Public Trustee and recover ?

Mr Major said the words "enforcement" could be taken to operate or mean at any time. But he did not think the Council could destraint without the written consent of the Minister of Native Lands. Mr Brennan considered Mr Fisher was well up in the Native land laws and he is of opinion the local bodies are no better off than they were previous to the passing of the Act under discussion.

Mr Major agreed that Mr Fisher was well up in the Native land laws but he takes the view that every European exploits the Maori and may consequently err on the side of the natives.

Mr Brennan : That may be so, but bis contention in this case seems to be correct. Mr Dudley: Even if the looal bodies could collect the rates and they remained a charge on the land for a few years it would not be so bad as it would then remain an asset.

Mr Major believed the Act did give them that power. He would make a note of the particular poiuts raised and inquire from the Minister the law officers' opinion on the rating question of the Act. Mr Dudley informed Mr Major that the Parihaka township was in their midst and the Maoris used the roads as much as they did, and when the County Council billed the Public Trustee for an amount they considered the Native lands were liable, he says here is so much, take it or leave it. In the speaker's opinion it was a wrong stand point to take up. Mr Major said he would do his utmost to bring about a better state of affairs. TE KIRI-OPUNAKE TELEPHONE. The Te Kiri-Opunake telephone connection was also brought under discussion. Mr O'Meara asked : In the event of the connection being gone on with, would they be likely to get it with or without the guarantee ? Mr Major thought it would be with the guarantee. When he goes down to Wellington he believed it was likely they would get it. He had forwarded a memo, to the Town Board, received by him from the Departmeot, stating that they, would again inquire into the matter. Mr Trotter inquired if the To Kiri branch would be made separate. For instance, if he were to ring up the station-master about goods that came via Eltham road, and paid Is for the service would it be credited to Te Kiri? Mr Major said it would be credited to Eltham and Opunake and the guarantors would pay interest on the Te Kiri construction. Messrs O'Meara and Trotter did not think that would be fair as it would be due to the Te Kiri connection that ths service would be used. To Mr Major's query that there was a through service, the members emphatically expressed the opinion that it was resultless to ring up any one beyond Manaia owing to tbG delay to get communication and the inaudibleness of the speakers. •■ Mr Major doubted if revenue was lo9t. Mr Brennan said it was so, as be 1 imself had advised on business in connection with dairy factories, that it was no use ringing him up as he could not afford to waste the time to get connection. Mr Major said he would point out to the Department that though Te Kiri might not get' the credit the service would get the benefit. That an increase woald be due to the connection with Te Kiri and that it would not be fair to charge full interest on the construction.

This was considered by the deputation tbe most satisfactory course to pursue by the deputation. Mr Major believed he would get the affair fixed up. The deputation thanked Mr Major for the interview and the members then dispersed.