GOVERNMENT LANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 31, 5 February 1916, Page 6

GOVERNMENT LANDS.

RIGHT OF PURCHASE CLAUSE. HOW SOLDIERS FARE. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. A case was brought under the notice of tbe Minister of Defence (the Hon. Jas. Allen) yesterday by a deputation from the Returned Soldiers' Association involving the position of farmers on Government lands who enlist for service. The statement made in the case quoted i referred to a section held under the o.r.p. title by Quartermaster-Sergeant Redfern. Sergeant Redfern stated that he had just made a start when the war broke out. The section had not made him any return, not even rates. He was informed when he went away that his rent could stand over, but found on return that interest would have had to be paid on overdue rent and the full rent paid eventually. Rent had been paid in full as it came due, in order to avoid paying interest. The Hon. Jas. Allen informed a "Star reporter this morning that he had learnt on inquiry that Redfern held the section with a partner. Redfern had gone to the war, while his partner remained on the section. As a result of a special application by the partner, it had been agreed to let the rent stand over for a year. It was a matter between the partner and the Land Board. Mr Allen said that he bad the assurance of tbe Minister for Land that farmers from Government lands who enlisted received every assistance and encouragement from the Department and the Land Board.

Mr H. M. Skeet, Commissioner for Crown Lands, stated that under ordinary circumstances when the Board allowed rent to be held over for a year, or longer period, in order to assist the tenant, interest was charged at the rate of 4 per cent. The application, which was of a special nature, came from Redfern's partner, and had been granted as a special concession. It was a matter between the Board and tbe partner, and not between Redfern and the Board. Interest was, therefore, reckoned as usual. If, on the other hand, men had been soldiers, the rent would have been held over free of interest immediately the Board had been notified that they were going to tbe war. The Board had always adopted a sympathetic and helpful attitude towards men who left their farms to go on service.