THE TOWN FREEHOLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 4402, 8 June 1933, Page 4

THE TOWN FREEHOLD.

The Chamber of Commerce is calling a meeting on Monday night of those who freeholded their native town leases in 1922, and it is to be sincerely hoped that the interested business people and others will attend to try and obtain some relief from a state of affairs which means a heavy burden on the whole of the town of Te Kuiti. This is a matter which not only affects those who freeholded, but the whole future of the town, and is of vital importance to its development. It is quite unnecessary to go into the details of the freeholding movement, beyond stating that it was an absolute necessity in order that business people and householders could safeguard their interests; that the Government paid boom values to the Maori owners of the land, and notwithstanding the protests of the freeholders, persisted in adhering to those values. Like the war debts, the Government can never hope to recqver the whole of the money paid to the Maoris, and it was acknowledged by a former Minister of Lands that a big mistake had been made in paying the exorbitant prices to the Maori owners. This is a matter in which only concerted action can give results, and the meeting on Monday is called for the purpose of trying to make the people of the town realise the position and take steps for forwarding a united appeal to the Government for some relief. Two delegations were sent to Wellington to put the position before the responsible Minister, and the last reply was that nothing could be done as it was “a matter of policy.” Seeing that the Government has been compelled to make substantial concessions to tenants on rural Crown lands it is difficult to understand why the same policy cannot be applied to the Crown tenants in the towns of Te Kuiti and Taumarunui. The Valuations of the town have been reduced one-third since the freeholding in 1922, yet those who bought their leases are still called upon to pay the full amount, a difference of over £30,000 in the aggregate. The posi-

tion is iniquitous, and will continue to be so until those interested are prepared to bestir themselves and again approach the Government. Seeing that there has been a compulsory drop in all rentals the freeholders have a better case than ever to present to the Government, but the first move must come from those interested.