WEST COAST RESERVES,

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11976, 20 September 1906, Page 5

WEST COAST RESERVES,

FINDING OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION. INJURY TO NATIVES. LEGISLATIVE RELIEF REQUIRED. (From Our Parliamentary Special.) (By Telegraph). WELLINGTON, September 18. The report of the Royal Commission (Mr H. G. Seth Smith) appointed to enquire into complaints made against the Public Trustee in connection with his administration of lands vested in him by 'The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1892" waa laid on the table of the House yesterday. The point for the Commision to consider was 'the question whether the natives interested in the West Coast Settlement Reserves should be relieved from the payment of the land tax where their individual interests were of less value than the exemption allowed by the Land and Income Assessment Acts. Clause Bof the report says . With regard to the assessment of land tax, I am of opinion that the present method of assessment does not inflict an injury on the natives interested in the West Coast Settlement Reserves. In support of tne opinion I beg to direct your Excellency's attention to the evidence given by the Public Trustee before the Native Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, which has been laid before this committee. He is reported to have said: "The natives have a legitimate grievance in respect of the land tax. It applies to Europeans and natives alike where lands are held in trust for several owners, but as there are few estates of largo size held in trust for a great many Europeans the land tax falls heavily on natives where a large grant is held in trust for many owners. In such cases the amount of laud tax paid by each native is out of all proportion to his small income or interest in the reserve. This should be altered in fairness to the natives, especially if the lands are in the future to pay full local rates. (Parliamentary paper, 1904). I have the honour to recommend that the Legislative be requested to make the necessary provision to relieve natives from payment of land tax where their individual interests in reserves are of less value than the exemption allowed by the Land and Income Assessment Act. Dated September 8, 1906." Note— Thia report is of great importance as the principle there- laid down is not limited, and peculiar to lands under the West Coast Settlements Act. There are other areas of native lands in the colony in like position.