LOCAL BODIES FINALISED

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1933, Page 9

LOCAL BODIES FINALISED

CRITICISM OF STATE ACTION. ‘ INABILITY TO COLLECT RATES. The serious position facing the Whangamomona County Council in the growing volume of rates unpaid and in arrears was strongly commented upon at the meeting of the council, when criticism was 1 levelled at the methods of the State as mortgagee and holders of bills of sale interested in properties and stock held by Crown tenants. It was .mentioned that a great many ratepayers in the county were Crown tenants who because of the depression were unable to meet their obligations, with the result that after the mortgagee and the holder of the bill of sale had taken their share of whatever revenue was derived the local authority had no chance of securing payment of rates. It was felt that the local authority, the mortgagee and other secured creditors should all share pro rata in the distribution of any revenue, and the member of Parliament for the district, Mr. W. J. Polson, will be asked to do everything in his power to ensure that a Parliamentary committee is set up during the coming session as requested by the conference recently convened by the Wairoa Harbour Board. The chairman was asked to press the matter at the counties’ conference. , The discussion arose from the receipt bf a communication froni the Wairoa Harbour Board, who forwarded a summarised report of a conference of delegates of local authorities from East Cape to Woodville, together with the resolutions in regard to rating and payment of rates by the Crown. At the conference it was decided to ask that a Parliamentary ! committee be set up to meet delegates from the conference and others, so that the case for the local authorities could be stated. The board hoped that all local rating bodies would take up the matter and arrange to appoint delegates from their district to act with the delegates appointed by the conference in order that united action could be taken and strong deputations formed to go before the Parliamentary committee. Cr. Law said the Whangamomona county was particularly adversely affected by the mounting arrears of rates on Crown lands. Most of the ratepayers in the county were tenants of the Crown and most of the land was under mortgage to the Crown. It was usually found that these ratepayers held their stock and farm implefnents under a bill of sale to stock and station agents. An increasing number of settlers was finding it impossible to meet their obligations, with the result that the stock and station agents, by virtue of their bill of sale, had first call on any revenue derived from that land., Then the mortgagee, usually the State Advances Department, took what was left and the local body was left without its rating income. Unless the roads were kept open, all these properties would depreciate so much that they would become worthless. Cr. Law contended that, where any revenue at all was being derived from these Crown mortgaged lands, legislation should be enacted whereby the local body would be entitled to at least a percentage. The chairman (Cr. N. R. Cleland): After the State Advances Department, the Lands Department and the stock and station agents have had a share of any revenue, the council is often left with nothing at all. “There is'this to be considered,” said Cr. Neustrowski. “Many farmers are not making sufficient to pay their way, and it is only the stock and station agents who are standing by them.” Cr. Roberton: I am concerned not so much by the occupied Crown lands as by abandoned sections. In many cases the Crown is re-letting, these properties at low rentals and on terms where the local body cannot expect to collect its rates.

In those cases, said the chairman, the State Advances Department claimed it was not even receiving interest on its money. The council had to look at the matter from the point of view that unless the local body kept access open, the sections would never be lettable. Cr. Law said everyone recognised that the sustenance of a settler and his family should be the first consideration, but, after that, the local authority should definitely participate in any revenue.