LEASEHOLDERS' DIFFICULTIES

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 201, 22 August 1912, Page 9

LEASEHOLDERS' DIFFICULTIES

A SYMPATHETIC PREMIER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Representatives of the lessees of the Ohutu block of uative land, in the Wanganui district, waited on the Prime Minister as Minister of this morning. They pointed out that the tenure of twenty-one years' renewable lease was unsatisfactory, that there was a question whether the improvements were a charge upon the land, and that they were subject to disabilities in regard to borrowing money for improvements and roading, and they therefore asked that the Government should assist them to -get the freehold of their holdings. The. Prime Minister said his sympa+hies were with the settlers in the un fortunate position in which they seemed to be placed. Even if the fault was their own, the fact remained that they were in a serious difficulty in regard to finance it was quite impossible, in his opinion, to finance on these leases. Very lew people, would lenj money on the security of the lease except at a very high rate of interest. As to roading, according to the present law, the position was that the expenditure on roads oid not count at the end of the lease, when compensation was paid to the man who had been occupying the land. He was contemplating an amendment of the law which would put the matter right, but it could not be made retrospective. The policy of the Government on the land question was the option of the freehold wherever it was possible to give it. Unfortunately it was not always possible, but he thought they wonld notice, from the division that took place in the House laat night that not only the Government was freehold, but the House was freehold. The difficulty in the present case appeared to be that the lessee roulr] not acquire the freehold even though the owners were willing to sell. He proposed to have the point looked into. His sympathies and the sympathies of the Government were with the deputation, and later on. when the question had been reported upon, he Imped that the Government would be able to suggest some way out of the dilliculty. Tf the Government could help Ihem it would be glad to do so, but tho interests of the native owners must be safeguarded, and it would be the duty of the Government to see that that was done.