CROWN TENANTS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3439, 5 March 1932, Page 5

CROWN TENANTS

RENT DIFFICULTIES. POLICY OF DEPARTMENT. The policy of the Government concerning distraint for rent where Crown lessees were in arrears was discussed by the Minister of Lands, Hon. E. A. Ransom, in reply to an urgent question by the Hon. A. D. McLeod (Govt., Wairarapa), in the House on Wednesday afternoon. Mr. McLeod asked whether it were the policy or intention of the Government to distrain on stock for overdue rent. He said that Crown lessees having arrears of rent were being notified by the banks that stock secured overdrafts could not be granted or renewed unless the Lands Department gave an undertaking not to distrain against stock for overdue rent.

The Minister said that, generally, the policy of the department was not to distrain for the recovery of overdue i-ent. "It is desirable, however," he said, "that where a tenant is unable to make satisfactory arrangements with his banker or stock firm to finance owing to the possibility of distraint, his case should be submitted to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, who, if satisfied with the manner in which the farm has been managed, and the inability of the tenant to meet arrears of rent under present economic difficulties, may give the required assurance."