FARM RENTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 77, 13 March 1934, Page 9

FARM RENTS

Sliding Scale System IN TERMS OF BUTTER-FAT The system of paying rents in terms of butter-fat which is in vogue in the Taranaki district appeals to more than one Hawke's Bay farmer, judging by comments that have been made to the “Tribune” during the past few days. “The scheme is admirable,” said one farmer, discussing th : matter with the writer. “Not only does it represent a true system of values, but it also makes the payment of rents more equitable. If something on the same lines were applied to sheep-farming then the position of primary producers would be much improved. Say a farmer clipped 30 bales of wool from his sheep, of this number he would have to pay the equivalent of say five bales as rent. If the wool realised £l5 a bale then the owner of the land would receive £75 as rent. If the wool made £5, then he would pay £25. In other words the tenant would have an automatically sliding scale of rents. When prices are good he would pay for the privilege of having good prices by paying a higher rent. When prices were poor then Iris landlord would have to pm for the privilege of owning the land bv accepting a small return. “The scheme would doubtless have some difficulties." concluded tins farnier, “but on the surface there seem to be some sound ideas in it.”