THE PELORUS GUARDIAN and Miners' Advocate. TUESDAY, 21st MAY, 1907. RATING NATIVE LANDS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 18, Issue 41, 21 May 1907, Page 4

THE PELORUS GUARDIAN and Miners' Advocate. TUESDAY, 21st MAY, 1907. RATING NATIVE LANDS.

The spectacle of the Native Minister indignantly urging that Natives must pay their rates is not without a touch of grim humour. Those who remember a certain election contest in the Turanganui (Poverty Bay) district a few years ago, when Mr James Carroll was not so certain as he is now as to which political party he would favour with his support, nor so sanguine of election as the European • electors of Waiapu have of recent years made him, will recognise the aptness of the remark that circumstances alter cases. The breeziness of the Minister's reply to the Taranaki deputation who asked for his permission to sue certain Natives for rates was delicious. " Fire away," said Mr Carroll, " that's just what I want; and if you bring one of these wicked Maoris to Court I will pay the fine myself." One can imagine the portentous wink that accompanied this public exhibition of altruism. But it is satisfactory to know that at last the Minister has been forced to take a definite stand on this matter, because the machinery provided by the Native Land Rating Act of 1904 has been absolalely inoperative through a clause reserving to the Minister the right to allow or disallow the enforcement of judgments for rates. The Act referred to provides that all Native land of which there is a European occupier; or that is situate in a borough or town district/ or within ten miles of any part thereof; or that is situate within five miles of any Government or County road; or that has been at any time acquired by purchase, lease, or in any other way for valuable consideration from any person or from the Crown ; that has at any time been liable for full rates; or that is incorporated under part 11. of division 11. of " The Native Land Court Act, 1894," shall be liable for the full amount of rates (including special rates) from time to time levied in the district, or any subdivision thereof, or in any part of the district defined for the purpose of any special loan. All Native lands vested in the Public Trustee in trust for Natives are also liable for rates, and all other Native lands the title to which has been ascertained are liable to be rated at one-half the district rates; if the title has not been ascertained the land is not liable for rates. Nothing further than this is required ; but the effect of I these clauses is nullified by clause 8,! which provides that no judgment against a Native owner or occupier for non-payment of rates shall operate or he enforced until the expiration of one month after the entry thereof, nor shall it operate or be enforced at any time without the previous consent in writing of the Native Minister. It is absurd that public bodies should be compelled to go cap in hand to the Minister for permission to collect rates that are legally and honestly due. The subject is not without interest in this district, but in many parts of the colony miles and miles of road fronting , Maori land have to be maintained out of rates collected from Europeans in other parts of the district. The outcome of the Minister's " previous consent" will be awaited with con-' siderable interest.