Soldier Settlers

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 16, 13 October 1933, Page 11

Soldier Settlers

Sir, —“Armentiere” says that the reduction of rent made to soldier settlers A small and only made for one year, that if' a settler is unable to pay up he loses his rebate, and that arrears are not cancelled. He concludes by saying that the statement made by “Passchendacle,” viz., "that the soldier settlers are gasping like fish out of water struggling to meet the demands of the department,’’ is true. As in the case of ‘T’asschendaele,” these irresponsible statements are not only calculated to mislead the public but create an unrest among Crown tenants generally that is entirely unjustifiable. The reduction of rent or interest made in individual cases are not made for one year only but are reviewed from time to time, or season to season, and extended or adjusted where circumstances justify it. Provided tenants or mortgagors can advance good reasons the board has power to refund such penalty. The statement that “arrears are not cancelled” is a class of criticism that carries its own condemnation. All arrears due are certainly not cancelled, nor are the arrears of atty farm tenancy or business in the Dominion cancelled willy-nilly. The facts are that all Crown settlements and individual cases generally have been and are being from time to time reviewed by the boards and departments carefully and exhaustively, and where justifiable and circumstances warrant are postponed or definitely remitted in whole or part, together with adjustments in annual or seasonal obligations. Many hundreds of thousands of pounds have already been definitely remitted, and at the proper time, and when both land and stock values reach a more .stable basis, the Hon. Minister no doubt will have the position of Crown' tenants generally reviewed throughout the Dominion. As a representative of Crown tenants I am as anxious as your correspondents io see that interest and rentals are brought to a parity with productive values, but the obligation of the State and the interests of the general taxpayers are necessarily bound up in the question; ami until values generally reach some reliable basis it is not reasonable —in fact it is not honest —to suggest making wholesale reductions and remissions along the lines suggested by your correspondent. I can only repeat here what I state in my reply’ to "PasschendaelC.” that provided the Crown tenant plays the game by the department and pulls hie fair weight on his farm, no farmer In the Dominion is so safe from eviction or being harassed as the Crown tenant. The Hon. Minister, the commissioner, the department and the Land Board have and are extending liberal and sympathetic consideration to Crown tenants generally and soldier settlers in particular in the very difficult circumstances through which Dominion farmers generally are passing, and with all the facts before me I feel it is my duty immediately and definitely to refute the statements made by your correspondents. If “Armentiere” has any case or cases in mind where hardship as a result of the, notion of the board or department exists I will be glad to have definite particulars, when I can promise him the case or cases will receive full investigation by the commissioner and the board. —I sin. etc.. C. H. BURNETT Wanganui, October 11.