THE MORTGAGORS’ RELIEF

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21726, 7 March 1936, Page 25

THE MORTGAGORS’ RELIEF

TO THE EDITOR 0* THE PRESS. Sir,—After reading the letters which have appeared in "The Press” from time to time from “A Poor Cocky” and other writers, describing their treatment under the Mortgagors’ Relief Act, one wonders how long it will be before the present Government provides some members of these tribunals with “running shoes.” It may well be asked what they are there for, apart from drawing good salaries. I happen to know something about cases which have been brought by the State Advances Department to get- itself out of an awkward position, and know, too, bow well it is backed up by these relief commissions, and how little notice is taken of the word of the farmer ®r of the evidence he brings. In ons

case that I remember the State Advances called up their, mortgage, class-i ing the mortgagor as Incompetent, against all the evidence he brought, and when, the Court of Review sent the case back to the commission for reconsideration, its explanation was that his appearance was against him. It is very noticeable,. too, how ready the commissions are to work in with stock firms; in fact, I understand that though a farmer has kept hlmfielf free of liens and other millstones, yet he is asked to place himself under soma financial or stock firm, who will, of course, take a heavy toll of all they handle, or do not handle. When the personnel of the Relief Covirt is considered, it is easier to understand cases such as the one which “A Poor Cockv* has explained so cleanly and fully: most of them are business men, with only the slightest knowledge of farming. No account is taken of good fanning, clean land, etc., an immediate cash return being the only objective. When a stay order is granted! it is the same, and it is expected to budget the farm into prosperity, as if' budgeting could make the slightest difference. The fact is. the whole plan of assistance to farmers Is being brought into contempt; some men who have no right to be there are left on their farms, while many good farmers are being evicted,, or, worse still, placed under a stay Order; The late Government professed to be helping the- man on the land, but it is time to brihg under review some of these transactions, such as the ones quoted by “A Poor Cocky” and others —Yours, etc.,. t ;

T A S January, 25, 1936. [This letter was referred to the Minister for Justice, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, who said that it was the practice of his department to ignore anonymous press correspondents.]