NATIVE LANDS RATING CASE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13482, 23 July 1907, Page 2

NATIVE LANDS RATING CASE.

The Valuer-General, Mr. G. F. C. Campbell, has issued the following memorandum to the local bodies interested: — "You are doubtless aware that under the Native Land Act, 1904, certain information regarding Native lands is required to be entered in the valuations rolls. I may say, at once that this information is not possessed by this Department, and that owing- to the granting of succession orders and the decease of many of the original grantees, the information is extremely difficult to obtain from those Departments which have control of the records. To obtain a detailed search respecting every Native block in the colony before issuing the rolls would practically Vender it impossible for me to supply many of the rolls without causing very cerious delay and inconvenience to the local bodies. it is, the delay caused by endeavouring to satisfy the requirements of the Act of 1904 already causes inconvenience. Then, again, there is no certainty that any satisfactory result can be obtained by searching in those casea where the. titles have become greatly involved. In consequence of the difficulties of obtaining details regarding the interests in these lands it has become necessary for the Department to issue the rolls, omitting details where these are not obtainable without causing delay. If, however, the local authorities desire to press for the rates in any case where details are not entered, I will endeavour to obtain by special search the required particulars if the local body clerks will advise me of the particular items on their rolls respecting which they propose to proceed. I would also ask the local bodies interested to advise me — even when particulars are shown on the rolls — before issuing summonses, as, owing to constant changes taking place, it is advisable to have an up-to-date search made in all cases before taking action." The Valuer-Generftl, in an explanatory letter, states: " I am not sanguine that we shall ever get rates in a large number of cases, despite all our efforts, but I am anxious £q do what I can to obtain correct Information for the rolls."