GRAZING RUNS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8187, 31 July 1912, Page 3

GRAZING RUNS.

grieva xci.s outeined. DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER. The position of small grazing runholders wa- again hcfun- I lie Prime Minister (lion. \V. X'. Massey j yesterday, a deputation from the Ma nganialiu district roiiM.sl ing of Messrs Whiteman ;;nd T. Uiuo living introduced by Air E. Newrnan. At. I'. A lengthy petition setting out: the ease was pie-omti (j. This elated that the petitioners are lessees of small grazing runs in the Manganiahu Rond Uistriel, Wanganui County. Tiic runs, according to Ihc statement, were taken up under part 7 of the hand Act. They were in no way similai to the .-mall grazing runs in tin; .Sovdii Island, nor were they in open country; but were merely ordinary bush no larger in area, no latter in reality, and no cheaper in regard to rent than adjoining lands which wen; thrown open for lease with righi of purchase. The ratable value, of small grazing runs was fixed by section 2 of the Hating Act. ISBL’, as follows; —‘‘The ratable value of all pastoial lands of the Crown shall be a stun which invested at ii per cent, per annum would produce an income equal to the rent.” PAYMENT 01’ BATES.

The petitioners under their leases agreed to pay all rates, taxes ami assessments which might la- levied on the foregoing basis. the Hating Act Amendment Act, 1592. provided that the ratable value of small grazing runs should be assessed in tho same manner as other occupied lands of the Crown, but this was repealed by tho Hating Act. 1 Slit, the Government of that day evidently realising that injustice was done by the Act of ')893. The loiiscs wo re all renewed in 1905 and 1009. the basis of the rating being exactly as it was at the commencement of tiie first term of the leases. A NEW ACT. "In 1010,” continues tho petition, "that 1b to say almost immediately after the now leases were granted, and as a matter of fact before some of them wore signed, tho Government passed tho Rating Act Amendment Act, 1910, subsection 2 of section 22 providing that tho ratable valuo of small grazing runs bo assessed In tho same manner as other occupied lands of the Crown. "Your petitioners submit that the inclusion of subsection 2 of section 22 of the Rating Act Amendment Act, 1910, constitutes a breach of agreement as between the Crown and its tenant. “We think it unjust for a lessor (in this case the Crown) to give a lease under certain conditions ns to payment of rent and taxes, and then to immediately take such action as doubles its tenants’ payments under these headings: and it makes no difference from our point of view whether this result is arrived at by an amendment of tho Land Act or tho Bating Act. SPECIAL BATES. “In our district special rates are enormous on small grazing runs (3d in tho pound.). In the levying of these rates and in tho raising of the loans (the interest of which is met out of the special rates) our voting strength was proportionate to our ratable value at tho time. We shouldered a certain liability in respect of road loans, and these loans are to nil intents and purposes a mortgage on tho land. '‘By the Rating Act Amendment Act, 1910, our liabilities as small grazing mnholders were > increased sevenfold, and tho Government shifted a burden from the freehold lands on to its own estate at our expense meanwhile as tenants. CROWN TENANTS. “As Crown tenants your petitioners submit:— "(a) That tho time to find out that the system of rating in this case required alteration was not immediately after new leases were signed. ''(b) That if tho small grazing runs are to he rated tho same as other occupied . lands of tho Crown, then the tenants should have a tenure at least as good os the tenants of those other Crown lands. ‘‘(o) That all other Crown lands in our district which are-included with us in special road loans had the option of freehold and exercised it, thereby reaping tho full benefit of the road construction in the enhanced value of their properties. “(d) That having as tenants of small grazing runs no interest in the improved value brought about by reading although we pay for it equally with the freeholder, we should if the present baste of rating is to be adhered to. be given a secure tenure with option of freehold. "And yohr petitioners pray that legislation be introduced accordingly.” MINISTER’S REPLY'. In reply Mr Massey pointed out that a deputation had already waited on him in regard to the position of lessees of grazing runs. He sympathised with settlers who had done tho hard pioneering work in the'back-blocks, and he thought some of the lessees had a grievance. He was referring tho whole question to the Crown Law Officers and he hoped thei Attorney-General would bo able to draft ft clause to give relief—if it were found that relief should bo granted—at the same time conserving the interests of the State. He hoped that this would bo done in time to incorporate a clause in the Land Bill he intended introdnoing this session—a Bill ho hoped to pass.