A SUPERHUMAN TASK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3770, 4 March 1913, Page 7

A SUPERHUMAN TASK.

COLLECTION OF NATIVE RATES. HON. W. H. HERRIES’ OPINION. DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER.

The greater part of yesterday afternoon was taken up by Hon. W. H. Herries in receiving deputations—one from the Cook and tho Waikohu County Councils and one from the Harbor Board.

In explaining the object of tho County Councils’ deputation Cr Kenway said that they had met to suggest that the Natives should be placed upon the same footing as Europeans in the matter of rates. At the present time the total outstanding sum in rates was about £3OOO, and tho Council saw no reason why they should not have means to collect those rates. It was in his (the Minister’s) knowledge that many counties were similarly situated to theirs. It was asked among other things, Would it oe possible to hold tho Maori Land Board liable for tho rates? Ho agreed with what the Alinister said at Waiignui that both races should be put on an equal footing. Or. Sherratt concurred in all the previous speaker ( had said.. Ho thought it would be. a good thing for tho land to be responsible for the rates. If the rates were not paid any particular piece could be sold and the rate paid.

The Muriwai Pah. The chairman also pointed out that there had been a great deal of difficulty over the Muriwai pah, and they wondered whether it was possible to declare the place unfit for human habitation. The Charitable Aid Board had found that most of the Alaori cases of fever which had occurred. and a good many had occurred originated in tho pah. Cr. Jex-Blake stated that most of the Natives had moved further out. He related the steps taken by Dr Chesson in a view to closing the pah, a course to which he said the Natives were agreeable. Tho Cook County clerk also brought before the Alinister the difficulty of obtaining trucks for the conveyance of shingle. Loan Questions. The chairman next mentioned the matter of loans. A little ago, he said, the Council applied for a loan and decided to increase tlieir overdraft by that amount. One of the loans had been granted, but three had not. Work had been carried on at one place, and it was of great importance that the work in those three places should be proceeded with. All the plans had been prepared for the carrying out of the works, but the State Guaranteed Advances Board had adopted the limit of £SOOO in the matter of loans. The ratepayers wore willing to adopt any reasonable means to find the capital and the interest to meet the overdraft, but to get the bank to advance the money they must show that the money will be available.

The Minister’s Views. The Alinister, in reply, said that,the task of rating Native lands seemed to be a superhuman one, but lie bad asked the local bodies to make some suggestions. By getting suggestions from every one they might evolve something that would meet the difficulty. The difficulty arose in the communist system of holding lands It seemed to him that tlieir efforts should be devoted to trying to individualise the titles and then the rating difficulty wouid disappear The thing bristled with difficulties, but if it could be solved he would try to do it. He would call a meeting of representatives of the county councils who would deal with the matter, and especially would clerks be welcome, because they had generally tried all the different acts and they could give valuable suggestions. He believed something could be done, and he was going to suggest that the three years should be extended to six years, and then they might & -C a sum of money worth going for. The Chairman : You agree the Natives shuld pay rates? The Alinister: Yes. He added, if they worked on the communal title it was rather rough on the Native who worked his section and paid rates while the others got off. With regard to the question of trucks, the Alinister said that the subject liad come forward atrthe meeting held in the morning. The whole question was that the local bodies were getting a cheap rate for gloving their metal. It was a business transaction, and it was only fair that the railways should be allowed te use their tracks on business lilies. He thought lie must stick to .the-principle of allowing the. department to shift local bodies’ metal when more profitable trade did not offer. If they were prepared to pay the schedule rates then he did not think there would be any difficulty in the matter. Mr Herries promised to go into ail the questions raised on arrival in Wellington. He would bring the question of tho pah under the personal no.tico of Mr Rhodes.