CROWN TENANTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 31, 5 August 1933, Page 12

CROWN TENANTS

SCHEME OF CO-OPERATION

THE STATE'S DEMANDS

The Iv Tew Zealand Crown Tenants' Association Movement, which began in South Canterbury, has now (Hawke's Bay exchanges state) strong and growing support in that province. It was remarked by one of the leading numbers of the Hawke's Bay 'branch that the private owners of land are meeting the situation, as. it atfects Crown tenants, far more sympathetically than is the Government. The fact is strongly emphasised that in very many cases men on the Crown lands would be forced out of business .Altogether but for the assistance rendered by stock and station agents. The Government, it is contended, is interested chiefly in getting its revenue,'and pays but little heed to the exceptional cases of, those whose land • has gone back for lack of means to provide adequate fertilisers and so forth. In many instances arrears of rent and interest are piling up to such an extent that many years of good prices will be required to enable the farmers to balance their budgets. Bearing these and similar circumstances in mind, the association has directed its attention to the attempt to obtain a greater representation of Crown tenant interests on the Land Board and to encourage pooling schemes as amongst suitable individuals providing that stock and station agents are willing. It is also realised clearly that each case of hardship must be scrupulously and impartially examined on its merits. A final object of the association is to press for a revaluation of Crown lands with a view to the reduction of rent and interest.