NATIVE RATING PROBLEM

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19673, 15 December 1933, Page 5

NATIVE RATING PROBLEM

RECOMMENDATIONS TO PARLIAMENT. By Telegraph—Prest Association WELLINGTON, December 14. Legislative effect to the main recommendations of the committee which investigated the native rating problem in New Zealand is given by a comprehensive amendment to the Rating Act introduced into the House today and read a second time.

The Bill, the provisions of which will become operative as from April 1, 1934, inaugurates a system under which payment of rates will be a charge against the revenue of the land and be collected by local bodies through dairy companies and other agents. Development lands will nay half rates, and non-revenue producing lands situated in boroughs and town districts will be placed on the same basis. The recommendations submitted to the Government by the special com.mittee are as under: (1) There are no sound reasons why natives on lands already reasonably developed should not pay full rates. (2) A statutory charge against revenue from the land snould be introduced. (3) In addition, in the case of hospital liability, increased subsidies should be granted to districts serving large native populations. (4) After reasonable provision has been made for the living expenses of natives on development schemes, the progress of which is highly commended, at least 50 per cent, of the rates should be the next charge against the land or produce, progressively increasing until development is attained. (5) Wider use should be made of the authority to exempt occupied lands that have no rateable value. (6) A charging order system applicable to lands within borough and town district limits should secure to local bodies up to 50 per cent, of the rates I annually levied. | (7) Refusal to pay rates because road I access is not provided to individual buildings is not justified. f