HIGH RENTS AND FARMERS' PROBLEMS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLIV, Issue XLIV, 7 May 1924, Page 8

HIGH RENTS AND FARMERS' PROBLEMS.

(To the Editor.) j Sir, —The letters appearing in your : columns recently on .high, rents and farmers' difficulties are very interesting. Mr Wells is near the mark in his estimates, but he does not include the cost of necessary plant, such as imple- } ments, milking machines, cans, and factory shares, amounting in all to well over £500, interest and depreciation on j same. I think he estimates wear and i tear, etc., too low at £15; nearer the mark at £60, including benzine or juice. It has been abundantly proved by farmers leaving their farms that £5 per acz-e rent cannot be called a fair , rent. A mighty farmer with a mighty ] good herd on a mighty good farm may possibly manage to pay his expenses at that figure, but the chances are that he would be poorer in a very short time. Farmers who have abandoned their land seem to have sacrificed their all in vain, as high rents and high land values are still with us. Nothing short of legislation in the shape of a Fair ; Rent Bill will remedy matters, as land- • "owners are quite content to continue the exploitation of the dairy farmer, Ms wife, and children. Re the lifting of the moratorium, "Old Farmer" thinks it ought not to be lifted just yet, and "Young Farmer" thinks it should so as to get the rest of the slump over as soon as possible. I think it should be lifted, as it has outlived its usefulness long ago, but it should be lifted very, very carefully, and I would suggest counting out the niora- ' torium period 1914-24, thus allowing mortgages to fall due in their original order. Ako, I think that no more evictions should be permitted as long as the interest is paid and the mortgagor is doing his best to arrange other finance. Great hardship will surely be inflicted on many whose positions are fast becoming desperate unless great care is exercised and much consideration shown at the time of the lifting of the moratorium. Thanking you in anticipation for your space.—l am, etc.,

GENUINE FARMEPv. j