TIRAUMEA SETTLEMENT.

Wairarapa Age, 14 March 1922, Page 7

TIRAUMEA SETTLEMENT.

RATE COLLECTION A PROBLEM. (The “Age” Special). What is the position concerning the collection of rates on returned soldiers’ farms was a question that exercised the minds of councillors at. the Eketahuna County Council meeting on Saturday, when letters relating to the subject of rates were received from three Tiraumea settlers. It appears that owing to the transfer of the laml not being properly completed in many cases and to soldiers leaving their sections without the Council being notified rate gathering is a difficult process.

“I am a returned soldier,” wrote Mr Bryce Wright, ‘‘and I know that several who did not pay their rates or part of their rates were in a position to pay, judging by their spending power. 1 am paying the present rates under protest, as our valuation is far too high, compared with adjoining places. It is hard enough to have to spend two years in the trenches without coming back to pay for it through the nose. To my mind, the toufe-side fire burners did not look to our interests as they should have done. Sympathy a soldier does not want—only fair play.” The writer enclosed £2B Is lid due for rates and stated that he was not paying the special rate of 5-16 d in the £ that had been struck in respect to arrears. He disclaimed any responsibility for the payment of arrears. ‘‘The Wellington Land Board has decided that I am to pay all my ra*es with the returns from my wool,” stated a letter from Mr W. H. Wallis. He had sold five bales at 6d per lb. and as soon as the money came to hand he would forward it to the council. A letter from Mr S. T. Bason stated that he was not in a position to pay his rates, amounting to £l9 10s 9d at present. Regarding a demand for rates (£23 14s 8d) on another section that he had applied for, Mr Bason said he could not be expected to pay these rates as he had not yet been allotted the section.

With reference to Mr Wrights letter, the council decided to inform him that no rate of 5-16 d in the £ had been struck in respect to arrears. The question as to whether all rates outstanding in the county should be sued for was discussed in committee, it being eventually agreed ‘‘That the county will take action to recover rates after March 22, but that discretionary powers be given to thechairman to extend the time of grace. ” •

‘‘The non-payment of rates by soldier settlers is a question that is growing every day and it is the duty of the council to bring it before the public and the Government,” said Cr. A. C. P. Hay. ‘‘This year £240 is owing from Tiraumea, not including rates due by soldier settlers in other parts of the county. Owing to transfers not being completed, the settlers at Tiraumea do not know’ whether they own the land or what the position is, and the council does not know who to look to for payment.”

A councillor: Some of the arrears cover a five-year period. Cr. C. T. Richardson suggested tha; the Government might be written to as to the position, of settlers whose sections had not been properly transfered. The county did not know who to approach for rates. Then again, many soldiers had left their sections without notifying the council. The chairman (Cr. J. B. Carruthers) instanced the case of a rate demand having been sent to a soldier on the Puketoi settlement the other day, it being discovered afterwards that the man had been off the place for 12 months.

The county clerk (Mr Cowlam) said that there was nearly £lOOO outstanding in rates from Tiraumea.

Cr. Richardson moved that the Commissioner of Crown Land be written to pointing out that quite a number of returned soldiers had left their sections, and that neither they nor the department had notified the council, thereby causipg loss and annoyance to the council and increasing the amount of arrears in rates until it was now' very great. In discussing the matter, he said, they should remember to be fair to the Government, had foregone all payments, such as rent, due to it from the settlers and had been very fair. Surely, even in these hard times, most of the men could have made enough to pay their rates.

The motion was seconded by Cr. Hay, and carried.

It was also decided to send the Com missioner details of the amounts owing on the individual sections.