THE SOUTHERN STOCK-OWNERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1248, 30 January 1896, Page 7

THE SOUTHERN STOCK-OWNERS.

During the snowstorms in the South last winter the runholders and stock-owners in some districts suffered severely—many of them losing over 50 per cent, of their stock. Amongst these unfortunate persons were numbers of holders of Crown pastoral leases. Applications were made to the Government for assistance, and as a result of enquiries which the Government caused to be made, it was recognised that unless some relief was given to these people, their runs would be vacant in a short time, because the occupiers were unable to re-stock them. Many old settlers had ruin staring them in the face. After full consideration, Mr McKenzie, Minister for Lands, decided to introduce legislation in order to enable assistance to be given to them by granting them a remission of a portion of the year's rent, or by extending the term of the leases to enable them to get financial assistance. It was necessary that some relief should be given, because owing to their losses during the snowstorms some farmers were unable to meet their engagements. To meet the difficulty Mr McKenzie brought in the Pastoral Tenants Relief Bill, which was passed into law with the almost unanimous approval of the House. Quite 400 applications for relief under the Act have been received by the Government—l7B from Canterbury, 180 from Otago, and smaller numbers from other districts. These include holders of pastoral leases, small grazing runs, contiguous freeholds and leaseholds, and perpetual leaseholds. So far as pastoral runs and small grazing runs are concerned, the Government can grant relief by remission of rents, but in the case of freeholds the only assistance which can be given is by the remission of the sheep tax. Mr McKenzie left for the South on Monday to meet the Land Boards of the various districts and deal with the applications. The Act gives power to the Irfwxdßoards.to make an enquiry as to

each application. The board then has to report to the Minister, and may recommend that such relief be granted as it thinks fit. Where the board thinks that no assistance is necessary, it gives notice to the applicant accordingly, and that finally s-ettles the matter. Th« Land Boards have been holding enquiries during the past two months, and they are now prepared to lay their reports before the Minister. Mr McKenzie's object m now going South is to meet the boards, to thoroughly discuss the master with them, and then deal with the applications. Mr McKenzie states that it is very important that the question should be settled without delay, so that in the event of any of the country being thrown on the hands of the Crown by inability of the present tenants to carry on, the land may be put in the market early in March, or enable the runs to be re-stocked during the most convenient season.