FARMERS’ CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 July 1932, Page 2

FARMERS’ CONFERENCE

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. [per press association ] WELLINGTON, July 8. Officers elected at the N.Z. Farmers’ Union Conference were: — President: W. Polson, M.P. Vice-Presidents: W. B. Matheson (Wellington), ,W. W. Mullholland (Barfield), E. M. Murney . (Tapanui). Treasurer, R. S. Chadwick (Dannevirke). Advisory committee, C. C. Jackson (Knopuaranga), W. Morrison (Maxwell), R. H. Teisst (Cambridge), D. Deckie (Washpool), J. D. Hall (Christchurch), W. D. Reve (Crookston), H. Seifert (Palmerston North). CROWN TENANTS’ ARREARS. WELLINGTON, July 8. An appeal to the farming community to afford assistance to the Govenment, and particularly to the Lands Department, in the solution of many of the ■problems confronting the man on the land during the present conditions, was made by Mr Ransom to a deputation from the New Zealand Farmers Union to-day. He urged them to try to look at the Department’s side of the problem that it was endeavouring to deal with. Mr Polson, M.P., urged that, even it it meant straining the Dominion’s finances more than at present, the Crown tenants should be kept on the land. He referred to the embarrassment of local bodies through farmers’ inability to pay rates, and. suggested that even though it might involve wiping out all of the liabilities, or making considerable reductions, the question of the arrears of rent should be seriously considered. The farmers also sought the Minister’s assistance in placing before Cabinet the need for revaluations of farm lands.

Referring to the aspect of forfeitures of Crown lands, the Minister, in reply, stated: “We are trying to meet the position as fairly, justly, and honourably as we can. I can assure you that some of the cases submitted from time to time are particularly difficult to handle, and I have given very definite instructions to the Under-Secre-tary that, as far as forfeitures are concerned, none are to be submitted to me for consideration until, first of all. the Land Boards have exhausted every opportunity of maintaining the men on the land.”

Turning to the question of rating, Mr Ransom said that to grant a flat rate of remission regardless of each individual’s circumstances, would be quite impossible. Large remissions of rent have already been made, and further large amounts have to be written off. There might be some lack of uniformity among the various Land Boards regarding the arrears ol rent, but he was meeting the commissioners an was trying to arrange for uniformity of action. The Minister said the arrears as at March 31 last amounted to £1,289,117, and postponements amounted to £298,388, making a total of £1,587,505. To suggest that these arrears and these postponements should be wiped out was to take a very serious responsibility. However, he undertook to give special consideration to special rating cases where deterioration took place, or where revaluation had been practised.