THE FREEHOLD TO CROWN TENANTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6964, 2 November 1909, Page 6

THE FREEHOLD TO CROWN TENANTS

(To tha Editor " N.Z. Times.”) Sir,—Mr Baume’s remark that every' Crown tenant is "a dissatisfied freeholder,” and Mr Davey’s statement that it's a sin to part with the land at the original value, are pretty wide statements, and, as a Crown tenant, X should like to make a few remarks thereon, i'irst of all I want to distinctly state I am not in favour of the freehold to Crown tenants, and I don’t want the freehold. All these warn out a-ignments about a mam wanting "a bit of land of his own,” etc., are pretty weak, and all I cam say to a man who talks like that is, Go and buy a bit of freehold land (there are thousands of acres; any land agent will show him), and for ever hold his peace; be he a Crown tenant or otherwise. But to come to the point. What wduld be the position to-morrow if the Crown tenants were given the right to make their holdings freehold ? Mr Ban me says every Crown, tenant is a dissatisfied freeholder, and therefore if he had the chance to get the freehold ho would have it quickly. What lias the Crown tenant todo. First of all, find the money, of course. Where ? From tho money-lender. Wii at a wonderful harvest for the lawyers, etc., too. So our dissatisfied freeholder pays the lawyer, pays tho State amd goes back to ! his farm, I suppose a satisfied freeholder. Wo all know, Mr Editor, that not 5 per cent, of tho Crown tenants in New Zealand have . tho money -to pay for. their holdings. Those that fiavo have too much common sense to do so. They are business men, and their spare capital is earning them 6 per cent., amd perhaps 10 per cent., and they are not fools enough to pay off their liability, which only costs them 5 per cent., and in most cases there is a 10 per cent, reduction if paid to time. But I should like to ask: Is it the Crown tenants, who have raised this. cry- about the freehold? I think it’s quite a fair proposal that every Grown tenant. should be posted a ballot paper and let him vote freehold or nof and return it;.to a proper committee. They are tho mem this question most concerns, and I am prepared, to wager that Mr Banme’a statement would be found incorrect.

There is one great stock argument among farmers. Crown tenants sometimes use it. They say: If I had my deeds in the bank I could get am overdraft on them. I think those times are gone. The hanks have shut down their safes on lending money for any length of time on broad acres. Now it seems, Mr Editor, that this question of price is going to cause some trouble, and if Parliament is going to give some isolated Crown tenants the option, it’s just as well to consider the price. Mr Massey and many others are in favour of a price apportioned between the Crown and the tenant. Some other loud-mouthed Opposition supporters, and, unfortunately, some Government supporters, are pledged to the original value. Many sections, whoso original,, value was £3, have changed hands at .£ls for tho goodwill, so that tho incoming man, if ho wants tho freehold, must again pay the State, say, a further <£lo pier acre, added to tho original price, according to Mr Massey, and Mr JDavey says its a sin if it is sold any other way. • Sections on estates purchased - by the Government recently have changed hands at ~£B and .£lO per acre goodwill. I should like, it explained how those men can be given the freehold at any other price than the original value. These points are worth considering, whatever a man’s convictions may be, but as I wrote you three years ago, Mr Massey does not want this question settled. He wants it as a bait, or bribe, to catch votes. It’s tho only one ho has got, and white ho has it he will have something to talk about. He will argue over tho price for years and years to come yet, and dangle it around at another eleotion. But it will bo a sorry day for the Crown tenants when the moneylender has their deeds, and as for limiting tho holdings, you can’t limit how much a man lends. If a moneylender lends twenty Crown tenants money to buy their beloved freeholds, and bad times come, that moneylender will hold twenty sections, and can sit tight. In conclusion, Mr Editor, I wish you would advocate that the Crown tenants themselves be given tho chance to vote on this question.—l am, 0tC ‘* NORMAN J. DATSH. Carterton, October 30th.