WEST COAST SETTLEMENT RESERVES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1777, 11 November 1887, Page 2

WEST COAST SETTLEMENT RESERVES.

Regulations have recently been gazetted empowering the Public Trustee to receive applications from tenants of native lands for relief from tho burden of their rents. The Public Trustee, on receipt of such application for a reduction of rent, is empowered to lay the application before the Public Trust Office Board, who shall determine what remission or reduction of rent may be allowed, if any. If such application be refused, then the decision shall be final for at least one year from the date of such decision. Provision is made for the natives chiefly interested in such rents to assist the Public Trustee in arriving at a decision ; but if they will not consent to render such assistance, he may proceed without their assistance. If the Board, after consideration, is of opinion that a neglect to afford relief would result in a monetary loss to the beneficiaries — i.e., native owners — by reason of the inability of the tenant to continue payment of his rent according to the tenor of the lease, the board shall decide what

reduction of rent or remission of arrears of rent, if any, would be reasonable and proper. The Reserves Trustee is to notify the tenant what reduction has been agreed on, and if the tenant shall not accept the decision his application will be at an end. That is to say, a reduction offered by the Public Trust Board must be accepted without demur, otherwise ejectment for non-payment of rent may be expected. The payment of one year's rent may be deferred, interest at 5 per cent, being charged on such deferred rent. And in all cases where rent is overdue, 5 per cent, only, instead of 15 per cent., as heretofore, will be charged. Application forms are gazetted. The value of these concessions to native tenants will entirely depend upon the spirit in which the Public Trust Board deals with the applications. If rack rents are enforced on behalf of native landlords, the tenants will continue to eke out a miserable existence ; exhausting their capital, and impoverishing themselves of their landand their landlords. But if rents are so fixed, that the tenants shall be enabled to receive a faiv shave of the Droduce a 9 a reward for his labor, his skill, and the expenditure of his capital, then the serious evils so long and with such good cause complained of by tenants will speedily be removed. We sincerely hope that the Reserves Trustee will endeavor to ascertain what amount of rent tenants can really afford to pay at the prices now ruling for produce, and that he shall faithfully report to the Public Trust Board in each case what rent would be fair and reasonable both for tenants and for the landlord. If he will do this, we have little fear for the result of applications made under the new regulations.