SMALL GRAZING RUNS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2224, 30 October 1907, Page 2

SMALL GRAZING RUNS.

[To the Editor;] Sir, —I am pleased to notice that tho Minister of Lands has given a straight-out replv to tho question asked by Mr. .J-as. Allen in the House, as to what would become of tho runs under the 1885 Aot as they run out and come to be re-let-. Mr. McNiab’s reply was; “They will be re-let under the old Act for- 21 years. They won’t be in the endowments.” This repily of the Minister’s should lie satisfactory to those tenants holding runs under the 1885 Aot whose first terms have nearly expired. We know there has been a feeling of unrest amongst them, .and a certain amount of uncertainty as to whether they would got a renewal of their lease or not under a fresh valuation. There is no doubt that the present tenants are fully entitled to a renewal c-f their leases, as it is to their pluck and energy -that- the runs bare been turned from dense forest into good grazing country. And as in many cases the present occupiers have paid a considerable sum for goodwill, with the expectation pf a renewal for a further 21 years, it would press very hard on them to bo turned out to make room for other tenants who have had no hand in tho making and improving of the runs. It must he remembered when these inns were put on the market 21 years ago the district was a howling wilderness, no roads, bridges, or schools. Sheep were at a low price. There were no freezing works, and wool was less than half its present value. -Provisions had to he packed at a heavy cost, and the pioneers were cut off from civilisation. This was the state of affairs for many years. Tlie rental was certainly low, hut such were the drawbacks that it was quite a difficult matter to get anyone to tako uii these runs, and many , of them were thrown up after a few years’ occupation, but as the Government bought these lands for about 5s per acre it was good business for them to let them at a low rent, and get them cleared and sown down to grass. On some of these runs the last- of the bush is just disappearing, and it would certainly have been hard on the present tenants to have been cleared out at the e nd of their first term after making tho place f ot the Government. Ido not think anyone can say that the present holders are not desirable settlers, and if they are prepared to nav the increased rent- "for" the second term of 21 years they are certainly entitled to the refusal of it. It is. of course, known that certain members of. the land Board have •been agitating to have these runs taken from the,, present occupiers and cuit up for closer settlement, but I would suggest that they should -direct their energies to having some of the thousands of acres of unoccupied bush land put on tlie market, and let the new-comers do some pioneering in cleaning the country, the same as the tenants under ithe 1885 Act had to do. —I am. etc., , “FARMER.” Gisborne, Oct. 29.