LAND BOARD RESIGNS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LX, Issue 9800, 9 May 1924, Page 6

LAND BOARD RESIGNS.

MINISTER DECLINES TO ACT ON RECOMMEND ATI ON S.

SEQUEL TO SOLDIER-SETTLEt-MENT CASES.

A mild sensation was caused in the Gisborne Land Board at yesterday’s meeting when four members, Messrs. A. J. Cameron, J. H. Reid, “G. 0. Donovan and R. H. Wicksteed, tendered their resignations, which were wired to the Minister of Lands at Wellington. This action was precipitated by the receipt of a letter from the Hon. D. H. Guthrie in which he declined to support recommendations of forfeiture of properties on thp Ardkeen and Ohuka settlements. The Minister stated in his letter that, “in view of tho present policy, it was not desirable to take drastic action in the case of settlers who were ill arrears.”

In discussing tho position, members pointed out that, when the Board first made tho recommendations, the Minister had complimented them on tlie firm stand they had taken and favored the policy adopted, but had now refused to act on their recommendation.

After dealing with the- subject in committee, tho Board resumed in open meeting, when- the following resolution was carried : “As the Board’s recommendations in tlie matter do not meet with the approval of tho Minister and the Minister has failed to back up the Board after promising to do so, tlie unofficial members of the Board decide to tender their resignations. Board directs resolution to be telegraphed to tho Minister at, once.”

A ■•Times’’ representative was inl- - that the Ardkeen Settlement was opened up in June, 1920, and although four years have elapsed, some of the settlers have paid only one half year’s rent since entering on tlie land. Over two years after the land was opened for selection, the settlers wrote to the Hawke’s Bay Land Board, which at that time had jurisdiction over the properties, asking for immediate reduction in capital values and also requesting that all accumulated rents and interest he written off. The settlers had made no endeavor to pay off arrears on their properties, and the Under-Secretary for'Lands, referring to the matter in a letter, stated that even though a slump had been experienced, the land had some? economic value and the tenants should try to pay as much as possible so as to prevent tho arrears from accumulating. There were 17 settlers whose arrears of vents and interest were very heavy when the Gisborne Land Board commenced to take an interest in the trend of events. Last. February the Board decided that these people must pay 25 per cent, ol arrears before the next meeting, or in default their properties would he forfeited. The Minister at that time complimented the. Board on their action and expressed himself in favor of the policy. In order to be absolutely fair to the settlers and to give the men a chance, tlie Board, at its March meeting, modified its demands, and resolved that the settlers he given till the next Board meeting to pay one half-year’s rent of the money oiy'ing. If the settlors did not pay this amount, the Board would recommend the Minister to forfeit the land. When the Board met in April the cases were considered individually and forfeiture of ten properties was recommended, to the Minister. Since then four more settlers had paid one half-year’s rent. The remainder adopted the attitude that they would not pay and the recommendations went forward. When a deputation of the Ardkeen settlers, headed by Mr. O’Kane, and it is understood, accompanied by tho member for Hawke's Bay, waited on the Minister of Lands at Wellington, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie evidently “'side-trackccl” on his previous attitude and refused _ to adopt the Board’s recommendations, suggesting that the matter should remain in abeyance until the Dominion Re-valuation Board made their announcements.

A reply was received from the Minister of ’ Lands yesterday afternoon asking in effect that the members of the Board should reconsider their resignations. The resignations, it is understood will take effect immediately and further developments arc expected to-day.

REASON FOR RESIGNATION

NO SUPPORT FROM MINISTER

The reasons for their resignations were explained by members of the Board. Mr A. J. Cameron stated that he considered the Board would not he fulfilling their functions in remaining in office if their recommendations were not supported by the Minister. The Board have the facts and knew the district. The settlers had been given every consideration and forfeiture of properties was recommended only in cases where settlers would not pay, although they were in a position to do so. The Board, was instructed by the Minister to endeavour to collect some of the arrears, but now he rejected their recommendation. Mr J . 11. Reid said that the members had no option hut to resign. At first the Minister had declared himself in favor of the Board’s action and in fact on occasions had stated that the Board was too lenient in their dealings. Some of the settlers had paid off their liabilities and it was unfair to allow others who had not or would not pay, to escape payment. In tlie case in which 'forfeitures had

been i c com mended, the settlers were owing amounts varying from £9OO to 01500, and it was ridiculous that those men should he allowed to continue working their properties when men alongside had made all the necessary payments. Mr G. 0. Donovan pointed out that some settlers had paid portion of their arrears; surely then the men on. adjoining properties could do likewise. A number of the settlers had refused to make any payments, declaring that if the re-valuations were satisfactory they would continue to work their properties provided all back rents were wiped off. If the new figures were unsatisfactory the men would walk off. The action of the Minister in failing to support the Board would mean that if recommendations were made in the future, deputations would go to Wellington, interview the Minister, and possibly get him to agree to letting them carry on, as had been done in the case of the defaulting Ardkeen settlers.