CROWN LAND TENANTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 175, 9 July 1932, Page 10

CROWN LAND TENANTS

DEPARTMENT'S VIEWPOINT. TREATMENT OF FORFEITURES. Wellington, July 8. An appeal to the farming community to afford assistance to the Government and particularly the Lands Department in the solution of many of the problems confronting the man on the land during the present conditions was made by the Hon. E. A. 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 problems it was endeavouring to deal with.

Mr W. J. Polson urged that even if it meant straining the Dominion's finances more than at present, Crown tenants should be kept on the land. He referred to the embarrassment to local bodies through farmers’ inability to pay rates, and suggested that even though it might involve the wiping out of all liabilities or making considerable reductions, the question of arrears in rent should be seriously considered. 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 yon 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-Secro-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 everv 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 individual circumstances would be quite impossible. Largo remissions of rent had already been made and further large amounts would have to be written off. There might be some lack of uniformity among the various boards regarding arrears of rent, but he was meeting the commissioners and trying to arrange for uniformity of action. Arrears of rent, 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 arrears and postponements should bo 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.