FARMING PROBLEMS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 86, 12 April 1933, Page 3

FARMING PROBLEMS

VIEWS OF MINISTER.

REVALUATION NOT ADVISED. TREATMENT OF CROWN TENANTS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) DARGAVILLE, Tuesday. In the course of their tour of North Auckland, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands, and the Hon. R. Masters, M.L.C., Minister of Education, arrived in Dargaville last evening. A deputation representing the Dargaville branch of the Farmers' Union, waited on Mr. Ransom to discuss matters generally affecting the farming industry. Several speakers urged the institution of an inquiry into the monetary system of tlio Dominion, and comments made by them drew frcm the Minister a refusal to be drawn into a political discussion. In reply to a question, the Minister said that he did not advise a revaluation of land as a matter of policy. Pie was informed by settlers who had no liabilities on their farms that they could make ends meet on present values. What value could they put on these properties? Consideration to Tenants. "As Minister of Lands," said Mr, Ransom, "I have never signed the papers for the forfeiture of a section without first having a personal report from the officer concerned. Then I make other personal inquiries and study the files, and even then I would not issue the proclamation until I was quite satisfied that there was no hope of the settler pulling through." In 75 per cent of the cases it was at the request of farmers themselves that they forfeited their properties. They wanted to get rid of their liabilities. In some cases, too, the Department had sold the property so as to get rid of liabilities on the property, and if the mortgagee did not protect himself by buying the property in, the Department had placed the original occupant back on it minus the mortgage liability.

The Minister said it was the policy of the Government to help the farmer, for if the farmer was satisfied, then the rest of the community would be satisfied. A deputation representing the Northern Wairoa Returned Soldiers' Association made a plea for a reduction in the percentages of cream cheques which many returned soldier settlers are obliged to pay to the Lands Department. Mr. Ransom said he would like to do all he could for returned soldiers. He knew that the soldier settler would not like any differentiation made in dealing with soldier settlers or other settlers as regards cream percentage deduction. He and his officers recommended soldier settlers, where they thought these deductions too high, to submit their cases to the mortgage relief commissioners. Each case must be considered upon its own merits. As a rule these commissions had reported that the men were being treated very well indeed; in fact, some people thought they were fortunat to be Crown tenants. He was sure that in any case of hardship they had only to appeal to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, who would do all in his power to render assistance.

The Minister promised to look into the question of whether the law might be amended to permit soldier settlers owning freehold property to vote for members. Visit to Wilson's Block. This morning the Minister visited the West Coast and inspected Wilson's Block, which was recently subdivided into 21 holdings under the Unemployment Relief Settlement Scheme. He was very pleased to observe the progress being made with the erection of houses on tlio sections, and the preparation of the land for pasture. Later both Ministers left for the North, via Waipoua Forest, Mr. Ransom halting at Kairara to meet soldier settlers there. As Minister in Charge of Forestry, Mr. Ransom visited the State forest nursery in Waipoua Forest, and planted a young kauri tree. This afternoon both Ministers continued the journey to Opononi. Mr. Masters has visited schools en route, and on this first tour of the North is making every endeavour to gain a full impression of conditions in these parts.