TIRAUMEA SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 2797, 8 June 1921, Page 5

TIRAUMEA SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

Electric Telegraph—Pre«s As«o<*i*tio^ We lington. Last Night.

A deputation from Ekotaliunr* County Council waited ore lion. DH. Gfithrio. Minister in charge of Repatriation, and tlie Acfcing-Pre-niier. Sir Francis Bell, point-ing out. that the Tfraumoa settlement valuations had been increased 100 peTf cent., while part* of the districts with better land, had beon increase J only 30 per cent. The position baa! now become acute, ow ing to certain soldiers in the block refusing to pay rates, ami the. consequent action of the Council in adding five-sixteenths of a penny rates to cover the deficiency. The rates were now £750 in arrears, and only £459 was recoverable.' In certain cases tlie Council had taken legal proceedings, but found that, owing to the law protecting returned soldiers* land, it- could not enforce payment of the rates. Tliero was considerable feeling amongst the county ratepayers, and the Count. 1 asked tlie Minister to hare a re-vo Tuat ion made. Mr Guthrie told tlie deputation that he would take no drastic steps until the point in dispute concerning the valuation had been settled. Tho soldiers would be Informed that refusal to pay rates was a breach of tho conditions of tlieir leases, and would render them liable to the* forfeiture of the sections.

Sir Francis Bell reminded the deputation that neither the Govern-* ment nor the Department had any say in the question of values, which was left entirely to the valuers of tlie Assessment Court. He thought that revaluation would probably rcvsult in the present values being confirmed. While the protection of soldiers was very necessary in the eas*> of ordinary debts, it was questionable whether it was intended to cover debts owing to local bodies. He pro mised to look into tlie matter, and if found necessary, lie would have legislation drafted to deal with re*valuations. and he would ask Cabinet to consider the question of introducing it.