COLLECTION OF RATES

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1933, Page 12

COLLECTION OF RATES

POSITION OF CROWN PROPERTIES. LOCAL BODIES TAKING ACTION. The difficult position in which local bodies and . ratepayers generally are placed in regard to the collection of rates on Crown properties was again discussed by the Egmont County Council yesterday, when the Wairoa Harbour Board forwarded a report of a conference of rating authorities from East Cape to Woodville which urged that all occupied Crown lands, including lands being farmed by the Crown, be rateable for all rates and that statutory provisions for collection of rates in respect of lands owned or occupied by private persons be applicable to such Crown lands, that all rates levied on lands Mortgaged to the Crown and any of its departments be collectable in the same manner and with the same statutory powers as rates levied on lands mortgaged to private persons, and that a local body should have the right to set off against moneys owing to the Crown or any of its departments all rates owing to the local body in respect of Crown lands or lands mortgaged to the Crown or any of its departments. The conference also asked for additional statutory authority to distrain on stock and chattels in priority to the landlord’s right of distress, including the Crown or any of its departments, and that in all cases of unoccupied Crown or native lands the local authorities in that area be a committee with the Commissioner of Crown Lands or Registrar of the Native Land Court for the purpose of leasing to cover the rate charges. The assistance of all local rating authorities was asked with a view to ensuring united action in bringing the matter before a Parliamentary committee which it was hoped would be appointed. The chairman (Cr. W. C. Green) said the matter had been discussed by the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association and it was pointed out that it was impossible for the Government to meet the rates without raising more revenue. He would like to see the Government pay the rates. It was certainly a difficult problem. , Cr. Collins said the council snould ask the association to take action as the position created a hardship on settlers in backblocks districts where special loans had been raised and through properties being abandoned two or three settlers were left to meet the interest on the loan money. The chairman and clerk were appointed delegates to any conference that might be arranged. In connection with the representations constantly being made to the Government on the question of rates on properties mortgaged to the Crown, Mr Malcolm Fraser, Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs, stated that it was desirable that local authorities should submit figures illustrating the position in their respective cases. The clerk was authorised to supply the necessary information.