TARANAKI BACK COUNTRY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 68, 15 September 1924, Page 5

TARANAKI BACK COUNTRY

CPOWN TENANTS' DIFFICULTIES MR MASTERS' VIEW'S. Mr R. Masters. M.P., was interviewed by a "Stratford Evening Post - ' reporter, and on being asked whether ho li;ul anything to say reKiii'tliiijr the Crown Tenants in the Taranaki back-country and the Government proposals relating to their assistance, replied that the matters in question had boon the subject of negotiations between himself and tiio Hon. Mr MeLeod (.Minister of Lauds) for some considerable time." While. it might appear that delay, had occurred in the setting up of the Committee or .Hoard of Inquiry, "there wore, it must be remembered, many aspects of the question which required very serious consideration before the Minister could come to a definite conclusion as to the proper course to take in such an important matter. The first question was the constitution of the Commission of the Board of Inquiry which was to be set up, as this would have an important bearing on the report made to the Minister. Mr Masters emphasised the fact that from the outset the Minister had shown practical sympathy with the representations made to"him on behalf of the Crown tenants, and the cause of the dlelayi was j that Mr MeLeod .had found it im-1 possible to obtain Ihe services of; certain men whom he desired to act. ' That applied particularly to a suitable ' representative. who was ' thoroughly acquainted with the class of country that had to be reported upon. i

LEG JSL ATI VE 3VIACH IN F.R Y. The Board* would probably consist «u an officer of the Lands Department, one of the Public Works De partment and a practical rainier, who had had a long experience in country such as the Whangamomona iuid Pohokma. M, MeLeod had assured him. '/luil. the personnel 0 f the Committee would bo announced within a fortnight. The matter uiu!) v r consideration, continued Mr Masters, was one of the utmost importance to the Crown Tenants concerned, in view bf "the fact that the great difficulties with which they were confronted :i~ present made it almost •■'impossible ror them to carry on, and unless certain, relief was afforded by the Government without'"delay it would mean the abandonment of many properties in the hinterland of Taranaki. Mr Masters pointed out that it would be jfecessary for the Board of Inquiry to investigate the disabilities of the settlers generally with a. view to recommendiing a remission of ren.t for a term of years or a remission of interest, as the cast may be, and the giving of special consideration, to individual settlers in certain areas who's position was desperate. The Crown Tenants felt, that in view of the fact that the Government bad found the necessity (audi rightly so) of reducing the valuation of soldiers' settlers lands in. the same districts and under similar conditions, they as Crown tenants (for alter nil soldier settlers were Crown Tenants) had the right to be treated similarly. . Another important phase which must not be lost sight of was. that apart from being the landlord of the Crown Tenants, the Crown as mortgagee, would be prejudicially affected through the State Advances Office, Government Life Insurance Department and Public Trust Office, in. the event of assistance not being given, as a result of the depreciation of their securities. That this matter had assumed some importance could be gauged by the representations made by other members of Parliament who were asking that' the Board of Inquiry which was being set* up to inquire into the Taranaki cases should have its area extended to cover other localities, more fUltvolarly the King Country ailTTthe Kawhia. districts. Only those who. had an intimate knowledge of the hardship under which the settlers were working at the present time could fully appreciate the needl for relief in some, direction being given by the Government, and he hoped and believed (knowing that the Government was sincere in this matter) that as the result of the inquiry, the settlers interested would obtain such reHef, as would probably make the d|ifferencei between success and failure.

FINANCIAL ARREARS. When asked if it was suggested that anything should be done in the matter of overdue rent or interest, Mr Masters said that that matter was being .inquired into, and must obviously be thoroughly considered, liecause many of the settlers were finding it increasingly difficult to meet. their obligations at present, and*nn-les-s a remission or postponement were made in that direction, a reduction would not be of immediate )>enefit to those concerned, j PARANAKI FIRST. In view of the fact that representations bad. been made to have inquiries made into conditions in other districts, Mr Masters was asked whether be was ol opinion that Taranaki would be dealt, with first. | In reply, be said that as the matter relating to Taranaki was brought under the Minister's notice first he Lhonght Taranaki would be. dealt with first, and was strongly of opinion that it should be. HACK TO NATURE. .Mr Musters was then askec'j whether lie could indicate the (tovernnu'iit's intentions regarding the deteriorating billy country and wiid thai as the (Government had n»! so far made any flTmite proposals en that connection he would prefer nor to go into the del ails ol the nviirer. After be had discussed this iait.ortant question in the debate oil the Impest Supply Bill, Mr Masters 1i:hI been assurec'l' by the Prime Minist.'r that the latter' was thoroughly in sympathy with Ids requests in that connection. While Mr Massey bad not just at that time boon in a position to say what action the Goverii-

meat would take the House bad been assured that flu. matter would he dealt with in a practical way. Itwas also pointed out that it was going 1,, cost a considerable amount of money To give efleet to Mr .Masters' wishes in that connection. Mr Masters paid a tribute to Mr J. 11. Richards-, president of theStrn.lford Chamber of Commerce imet the members of the Chamber, ~ who. were, he said, deserving of congratulation* for their untiring efforts in connection with that matter. That body had kept the question in view lor a considerable time, aut'l a great deal of the spade work bad been done by Mr Pochards.