PASTORAL TENANTS' RELIEF BILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2171, 3 October 1895, Page 12

PASTORAL TENANTS' RELIEF BILL.

We have not yet seen the Pastoral Tenants' Belief Bill of the Minister for Lands, bat we sympathise with the object* of the proposal as indicated by oar Wellington correspondent. The pastoral tenants of the Grown — and not they only— have suffered severely In consequence of the severity of last winter; heavy falls of snow, in this island especially, having caused disastrous loss of stock in a number of districts. There is do n reason why the Grown should be Itss considerate than the individual, and readers of Home papers are familiar enough with the announcement that this or that landlord has remitted a considerable percentage of rent in consequence of the agricultural depression. No doubt, the landlord is often consulting his own interest in so acting, and it is the same with the Crown. Of course careful provisions should be made with a view of getting at the truth concerning each case, and the Bill rightly provides that the Land Boards shall make all necessary inquiries into applications for relief. According to our correspondent's nummary the concessions will consist of remission of the whole or part of a year's rent, the extension of the term of lease, the surrender of the lease and issue of a new one, or remission of sheep tax. Sufferers who are not pastoral tenants of the Crown may be afforded relief in the matter of the sheep tax. Properly administered, the measure should serve a necessary and humane purpose.