THE NASEBY COMMONAGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20318, 28 January 1928, Page 12

THE NASEBY COMMONAGE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin, —May I bo permitted to draw attention to a statement which appeared in your paper of the 25th inst., which I venture to say is quite incorrect? Ino words to which I particularly take exception read as follows :—" Some use the commonage to run a dairy farm without paying rates and taxes." Now, there is only one such dairy farm near Naseby, and every local resident knows perfectly well that this statement is intended to refer to the proprietors of it. It is, however, entirely wrong and unjustifiable to say that they run a dairy farm without paying rates or taxes. It is a fact, moreover, which no doubt can b» verified bv reference to the local Lands Office, that one of the proprietors of this farm has for five years or more acted as unpaid secretary of the Naseby Commonage, and has, greatly t 0 his credit it must be admitted, succeeded in collecting sufficient fees to pav the yearly rent for the commonage. Through his carrying out this thankless task local residents have been able to graze their cows m the commonage, and by this means alone obtain their milk supply for the small grazing fee of 5s per head per year. Some users of the commonage have not paid any fees at all, and these are probably the very men who profess to be dissatisfied if there are any.—l am, etc., Ratepayer, Maniototo County.