TENANTS OF THE CROWN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22418, 13 November 1934, Page 9

TENANTS OF THE CROWN

REMISSION OF RENT ARREARS MINISTER EXPLAINS SAFEGUARDS. (Peb United Press Association) DANNEVIRKE, November 12. Questioned to-day as to the accuracy of the allegations in some quarters that wholesale remissions of arrears of rent are being made to Crown tenants throughout the Dominion, the Minister of Lands (Mr E. A. Ransom) stated that the report wa« inaccurate. Mr Ransom admitted that a considerable amount of remissions had been made, but said that remissions were never granted until after very careful consideration by the land boards. Before any remissions were made they had also to be dealt with by the department, and finally approved by himself as Minister, each case being considered on its merits. Usually when a Crown tenant was unable to meet his payments the postponements were allowed to accumulate, and remissions were not granted until they were finally approved by the Minister. In many instances remissions had been refused. Mr Ransom said he was pleased to be able to state that payments of rent were now coming in most satisfactorily. Last year there was a decided improvement of 25 per cent, over the previous year, and so far this year the position showed a 50 per cent, improvement. "We are trying to meet the Crown tenants aa reasonably as we can, but in no sense are we making wholesale remissions."