PAYMENT OF RATES

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21036, 12 February 1940, Page 8

PAYMENT OF RATES

DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES INCOMPETENCE ALLEGED COUNCIL EXPRESSES CONCERN (Special iz Times) TE KUITI, Sunday State collective farms, and the Mahoenui native development scheme in particular, came in for much criticism at a meeting of the Waitomo County Council. Comment on the schemes was made by Mr W. J. Broadfoot, M. P., in a letter covering a reply from the Native Minister on the question of rating upon the Mahoenui native development block. When such blocks make a profit the department meets the rates, but the Minister said that, although a considerable amount of revenue had been received, the scheme had shown a loss on the year’s working, so that there was no surplus revenue available for rates. “This reply is an admission of incompetent development methods,” commented Mr Broadfoot in his letter. Tie went on to state that this area was gazetted for development in April, 1930, and that expenditure to date amounted to £67,884, against which receipts amounted to £33,336. Thus the net expenditure debited against the scheme was £34,548, amounting to £6 12s an acre. Unemployment Purposes “At £6 12s an acre tlfe average farmer could make a handsome profit, and so should the department. These schemes are palpably a hide-out for unemployment,” said Mr Broadfoot. This must be so since the Native Department report discloses that last year’s wages bill was £507,250, of which £457,250 came from unemployment funds and the remaining £50,000 from the special native housing fund.” Concern was expressed by the council lest rates on blocks recently taken over from farmers who had been paying rates would not be met by the department, as it was understood that they were to be incorporated in larger blocks under development. The chairman commented that this would mean that whole districts would come under the development scheme and cease to pay rates. Already that had happened in the Maoroa district. Allocation of Funds Reference was made to sums of £ISOO and £IOOO on the main and supplementary estimates described as grants to county councils for maintenance on county roads serving blocks being farmed under lands development schemes. A request is to be made that the county’s share of these moneys be allocated, and the council is to seek an assurance that when the properties are acquired on which rates have been paid the Crown will continue to meet the rates. Failing a satisfactory reply the chairman and clerk are to go as a deputation to Wellington.