GISBORNE LAND BOARD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16425, 8 May 1924, Page 9

GISBORNE LAND BOARD.

THE RESIGNATIONS

EXPLAINING THE REASONS,

Referring to* the resignations of members of the Gisborne Land Board, Mr". J. H. Reid, a. member of the Land Board, said that in view of the Minister's action, no other course was open to the Board. From the commencement he had signified complete approval of the Board's action —in fact, he had on seven-atl occasions said thai the Boaa'd was very lenient. Some of the settlers bad palid light up to date, and it was most unfair that settlers who had 'pafld absolutely (nothing should be treated in fihe same maimer as those who had struggled through .and kept, up their payments. In the c.'uscß in wbich forfeitures had been recommended, the settlers were owing amounts varying from £9OO to £ISOO, and it wa® ridiculous tllm't .these men should be allowed to continue working Itheir properties when men alongside had made all the necessary payments.

Mr. A. J. Cameron said that it was useless for the Board to continue in office iif their considered recommendations were not. going to bo supported by tin) Minister. The Board was in possession cif all the facts, and lliey had'a thorough bnowtedge of the district. They had extended' the ißeutlens every oonsid'eraition, and bad omily decided on forfeiture when it was semi; that ,some of the. settlers would mat pay, although they were oible to flo so. The Minister had told t.he Board that they must endeavor to collect some of'their arrears, and had supported them all through, 'bint now he turnfld their recommendation down. No Board could finictron under .these circumstalnccs, and thciir action was the only one tbey could bavo taken. Mr. Donovan said that be was of the. same opinion, Tlio whole (luestion bad boon,* gone inito most carefully, and it wins quitu fypgrnrait thai when some of the. settlers were able to pay their rent, those alongside could ait least pay eorne[h'mg. Soma of the .settlers bald openly defiod the Board and refused to pay anything. ThVy bad taken up the attitude 'that if the re-valuation was saitisfaotory they would carry on provided ni!% baick rents were wiped off, bu,t if tha proposals were .not satisfactory to them, tbey would simply walk off. the properties. The action of the Minister in failing to support the Board would moan that if recommendations were made in 'the future, denrotations would go to Wellington, interview the Minister, and possibly get'him to agree to letting tliem cnan-v on, as had bean done in the Cft'fio of the. defaulting Ardkeen settlers,