CROWN TENANTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 123, 6 March 1936, Page 6

CROWN TENANTS.

THE ASHBURTON BRANCH. NEW GOVERNMENT’S POLICY. \ The Ashburton branch of the New Zealand Crown Tenants’ Association met this afternoon, the president (Mr J. H. Robertson) presiding over an attendance of eight members. A motion of sympathy with the Royal family on the death of King George V. was carried. The- possibility of a visit of the Minister of Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone) was referred to. Mr .It. W. Wightman said that the Minister had told him tlftit as soon as Parliament had sat and ho had finalised his policy he would visit Ashburton. He hoped to meet a large gathering of settlers. The president said he proposed to get in touch with the Timaru executive to ask it to hold a meeting before the opening of Parliament. Hie advent of a new Government made this a special occasion. “It is no use our haying a meeting before we know the policy of the Government,” said Mr Wightman.

The president said Crown tenants had only one policy, and were supposed to be a non-political organisation. Settlers could not go on for ever accepting merely a living wage.

“The Government will give you your independence,” said Mr Wightman, who said the situation would be met immediately. To be fair to the last Government, the president said, it was right when it said that the time was not ripe to revalue, but how could it be right when, after time drifted on, it lifted the restriction ot revaluation on the eve of the election. This was-a weak step, He referred to the lack of interest in the association by local members until something m particular was wanted. It was stated that no claim toi ievaluation could bo made before June, 1936 some members remarking that they’ had been under the impression that they were entitled to revaluation immediately. The policy to be adopted by tbe association on the visit, of the Minister of Lands was discussed. It was decide j to hold a general meeting ot settieis after getting in touch with as many as possible, and then appoint a committee to formulate the policy. It was pointed out that the Minister would require the settlers to be thoroughly organised, it being the policy of the Government to deal only with organised bodies. The question of free transport foi children to school arose. The president stated that in some districts, after the children had been transported to schools, it was necessary to pay a further fee for them to be taken to the Ashburton Technical High School once a fortnight. This fee last year had amounted to £1 a pupil. A remit that the branch strongly urge the free transport of children to primary and secondary schools was carried, and it was decided to forward copies of this remit to the member for Mid-Canterbury (Mr H. E‘. Herring, M.P.), and to the Ashburton Technical High School Board, in addition to placing it before the next meeting <sf the executive of the association at, Timaru.