Notes of Meetings Between His Excellency the Governor (Lord Ranfurly), The Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, Premier and Native Minister, and the Hon. James Carroll, Member of the Executive Council Representing the Native Race, and the Native Chiefs and People at Each Place, Assembled in Respect of the Proposed Native Land Legislation and Native Affairs Generally, During 1898 and 1899.
Is Papatupu Land Ratable?
Is Papatupu Land Ratable?
Now, as to rates on Native lands: The first question is whether papatupu land is ratable. My own view of the law is that all Maori lands are ratable within a prescribed distance of roads, and that the Government has power in special cases to exempt. I will now explain why an increase in the rates would have been made. The same thing is done in the case of European lands, for as the land increases in value, so do the rates increase, and vice versa. I do not think, however, that reductions are often made. I will now show you a way out of the difficulty, which I hope your member will be able to see his way to support. We propose that no improvements shall be rated, and that there shall only be a tax upon the unimproved value of the land, just as for land-tax purposes. If the unimproved value were taken for rating purposes only, then these increases which you complain of would no take place, and we should have all the Europeans supporting the taxing of land upon the unimproved value, because it is a shame to take more from you on account of your having improved your properties more. Therefore I hope that you will support us in what we are proposing to Parliament—namely, to rate on unimproved value. (Applause.)