MINISTER OF LANDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 14 April 1928, Page 7

MINISTER OF LANDS

IN GOLDEN BAY DISTRICT

DEPUTATION FROM RETURNED SOLDIERS DEPARTMENTAL LIENS OVER STOCK (From Our Special Reporter I The Ministerial party consisting' of the Hon. A. 1). MeLeod, his private secretary (Mr Mulligan), the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Nelson (Mr A. F. Waters) and Mr K. I'. Iluds M.J\, arrived at Takaka from Motneka late on Thursday afternoon. The early part of next morning was spent in a short visit to the Golden Bay Cement Company's works at Taiakohe. At 10 o'clock the Minister met u large deposition of returned soldier settlers at the Gulden Bay Theatre. There were some lid farmers present including about 15 from ColliugwoovL Mr Falconer, district buyer for .). C. llin ton and Co. (X.Z.) Ltd.. was present and was also represented by Mr S. Movnagh of Nelson.

Before the business of the deputation commenced Mr G. Winter (chairman of the Takaka Council) and Mr R. L. Norris (chairman of the Town Board) made short speeches of welcome to the Minister and Mr Hudson. Mr Hudson also joined in the Ministers welcome to the district. Mr Hudson said he was gratified to be able to say that the Minister was present purely for the benefit of the electorate. The Minister thanked the speakers for the welcome extended him. He was particularly interested in the conditions of the men on the land, and, as Minister of Industries and Commerce, he was following the activities of the secondary industries. Tie realised, however, that the prosperity of the country depended firs) on the success of the primary industries. Mr MeLeod regretted that he was often unable to meet all the settlers personally. He considered that the Minister of Lands had a duty to meet the farmers and remove their grievances as far as was humanly possible. But it was not a good thing for the settlers to lean

wholly on the Government to get their troubles righted. The farming industry was healthy and robust just so long as the settlers depended as far as possible on their own efforts.

Mr Falconer introduced the main business of the deputation by explaining the trouble, that had arisen when his company purchased pigs and calf skins from local soldier settlers. His company had bought the pigs and calf skins bona fide and had paid for them. They later received from the Lands Department a demand for payment on the ground that the stock was covered by a bill of sale to the Department. -Mr Moynagh then gave a more detailed a unit of the position. Stressing the importance of the |iig industry to Golden Bay he staled'that the local bacon factory and Mr Falconer between them bought ."WOO pigs in the district each year and were responsible for the circulation of CIO.IHH) annually. In the present case a bona tide purchaser paid for the pigs .and the amount was claimed by the Department which held a bill of sale over the stock. The point was that the bill of sale did not take sufficient precautions to enable purchasers to identify the progeny of stock covered by the bill of stile." In regard to calf skins: Under the present absurd arrangement, the purchase money for each skin had to be sent tit Nelson. The cost might be I.ls or 4s each skin and to remit this would cost Od: i.e., (id exchange, Id stamp on letter and 2d stamp on cheque. The matter was not trilling for the purchase last year was 22,300 skins over the whole district. Mr -Moynagh did not want the Minister to think there was any animosity behind the complaint against the investigations made by the Commissioner of Crown Lands. J. C. Hutton and Co. had asked the Commissioner for a list of soldier settlers in the district who had stock under lien to the Government hut this was refused. Unless the matter coutct be. put on a better footing the company would have to close down on buying in the district. A DIFFICULT POSITION

The Minister said the matter was undoubtedly n difficult one over the whole of Now Zealand. The discharged soldiers' current account was second on the list of commercial banking in connection with bills of sale that had been done by the Lands Department. It. was necessary for the Department to carry on the hills of sale system on a commercial basis. As if was, special concessions were allowed soldier settlers. The bills of sale first of all enumerated the stock covered. All the affairs of the Department were- under extremely strict audit. Where a man who had pigs under a bill of sale lo the. Crown failed to meet his obligation and the Department was forced to write off the amount, then audit entered into the argument, and asked what had become of the security. The Audit Department had power to surcharge the Commissioner's salary with amount thai had disappeared unless a. proper account, could he given. The Lauds Department wanted to remove certain things from the bill of sale. Say a sheep farmer went in for two or three cows then it was a mistake to bring those cows into the main account of the farm business. The same thins applied to pigs. It was desirable that farmers should have complete freedom in the handling of money from such small side lines. This was far mure liberal treatment than any commercial concern would give. But where pips were the main \voil; ol a farm then they should be brought midoi the hill of sale and strictly accounted for. Mr Moynagh considered that the whole position could be very simply remedied by t ho insertion of a short clause to the etl'ect that so long -is tl riginal number of slock covered by the bill of sale remained (lie same I hen the progeny should he exempt. The Minister'said it was i v n question for the Treasury and Audit Department. The Commissioner considered Mr Moynagh's suggestion would be a good one provided there was any margin of securit v. The ' Minister remarked thai I here

had been so much leaka'ge of stock in different parts of the country that an instruct i<m li.nl been issued that a. few fanners be sued in order to show them that they were breaking the law. AI'I'KOi'KIATIONS FROM WOOL CHEQUES Mr Moynagh said that another matter he wished tit brim: I'ekward was; the appropriation mil of wool cheques «i! money to meet future interest and. principal payments, so depriving the soldier farmers of money to carry on their ordinary work and the purchase iif necessaries. A settler gave particulars of his nun case and explained ' that he was unable in carry on until he knew what his financial position was going to be. The mutter was frequently held up fur months and during that time the farm was going back. '.." THE NECESSARY MARGIN Mr MeLeod -aid that the policy generally was similar to that of Commercial hniises. Sn long as a, Tanner had a margin v.hieh he could estimate then the Minister knew of no difficulty with the Department. Advances would be made ;,L once provided the applicant was within his limits. Mr Ciombie, of Wellington, asked if there was nut delay until the field in--I lor had made bis report. The Commissioner slated that unless the farmer could show a source of revenue fur the next interest payment then it was only reasonable.' that an amount should be held back out of the man's wool cheque. The..balance could l)e paid over immediately without a field inspector's report. The Minister asked what farmers present had found delay in the granting of advances from the Department. He had had large: experience of farmers, and in almost every case where an advance had been withheld it had been found that payments had not been made promptly. lie could honestly say that in not on* case in a hundred had one of his officers driven a hard business deal with a farmer.

ABANDONED FARMS AND RE DUCED PRICE'

A further question brought forward was the reduction in value that frequently took place after >i soldier had been forced to walk off his farm. The soldier put in a lot of time'and labour on the farm, and he was net given an ! opportunity of tendering when the. farm was offered at a much lower price. Further, the farmer who walked off was still liable under hi;' personal covenant, and it. was thought that sonic certificate akin to a discharge in bankruptcy should be given to prevent .the farmers* liability being a burden on any future business he might build up.' The Minister explained that the Department did give a complete discharge where a man made a declaration that he had no money or. immediate, prospects of paying off h's.debt. These discharges were given in 99 per cent, of the cases where application was made. With reference to farms being offered at lower prices the Minister stated thatthe Department had in a number of cases reinstated farmers at a reduced price. It frequently happened that a man simply walked off a farm, and left the Department's chattels in nobody's handsj so that the Department had to send a man out to muster the slock. The farm was left 'derelict on the Department's hands, and might perhaps eventually be sold aI, a third or a Half of the original price.: The original owner then complained thai he had not been given a chance to lake the farm hack, but the Department answered that lie had not played the game with the Department, and could not expect better treatment. PORTABLE LIME CRUSHER Messrs A. 11. Burnett N. .i\. Baniett and E. 11. Stobie (chairman of the Upper Takaka Farmers' Union), made a plea for Government help in. the-.provision of a portable lime-crushing plant to- enable tanners to crush the .lime, already on their properties. - . • The Minister said he would be glad lo put. the request before the Minister of Agriculture. A recent discussion in Cabinet had taken ' place around the Government's desire to provide the farmers everywhere with better facilities for obtaining lime. Ife was quite sure the Minister ot Agriculture would grant the settlers some assistance provided he considered the scheme to be a feasible

Mr Moynagh thanked the Minister for the patient manlier in which he had heard the various requests. The speaker also joined Messrs Hudson,. Norris and Winter in a vote of thanks' which was carried by acclamation. The Minister thanked the meeting, and made special reference to Air Moynagh's effort:, oil- behalf of • returned soldiers. Again he wished to assure those present that provided they made honest efforts with their farms then the Department would meet them fairly. The Ministerial party left for Onakaka and Collingwood yesterday afternoon, and will return- to Nelson from Collingwood to-day.'