SOLDIER SETTLER RATES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18760, 17 July 1935, Page 4

SOLDIER SETTLER RATES

DEPARTMENT'S ATTITUDE COOK COUNTY INQUIRY Tn inquiry into the non-payment in many cases of soldier .settler rates is being made by the Cook County Council. V . \, At last month's meeting it was deeded to write to. the Conynissdonor of Crown Lands, Mr. H. L. Primrose, who replied as follows: — "I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter regarding arrear.s of rates owing to your council by a number of soldier settlers, and in reply I have to advise you that the department is doing all it can at present to have the arrear.s of rates met. The position is working quite satisfactorily in those cases where wc have a pooling scheme and where payment of rates is given priority. "The position is admittedly a difficult one to handle because of the fact that the Crown is continually being called upon to reduce rents and write oil' arrears.

"Where the department in any way controls the revenue from the properties, rates have been paid. In other cases, it is suggested that 'your council should endeavor to force the settlers into the Adjustment Court for the institution of a pooling arrangement under which the rates would be paid as a charge on the season's revenue."

At to-day's council meeting, when this letter was read Or. M. T.B. Hall .said that the department had not always paid fates for properties 'under its control. .

The chairman, Cr. Charles Matthews, Crs. S. T. Gray, M. % B. Hall and W. It. Shorratt were appointed a committee to inquire further into the matter.