SMALL HOLDINGS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1933, Page 4

SMALL HOLDINGS.

The final amendments made to the Small Farms Bill were inevitable following a further consideration of the measure. Speaking generally, they were in the direction of preventing the abuse of the small-holdings method of relieving unemployment. In regard to the payment of rent for the first three years of a small farm lease the decision is now left to the Unemployment Board whether an occupier shall be called upon to pay any or all of such rent. Originally it was proposed to make the rent a definite . charge upon the Unemployment Fund, a procedure which it is thought might encourage default in payment by small-holders. In regard to the compulsory acquisition of land for small holdings the rights of present owners have been more definitely conserved. They can now have a board set up to determine the amount of compensation or purchase money for land compulsorily acquired, and where such land is part of the security for a mortgage a mortgagee must now receive adequate notice of the intention to take the land for small holdings. Another amendment provides that rental received for a small holding by a mortgagor may be applied to interest payment if there is default in this regard. There is no reason to object to any of these amendments, It is true that the establishment of unemployed upon small holdings has been the most hopeful of all the methods of relief so far applied, but it is essential that small holders should recognise their responsibilities as soon as they are in a position to do so, and that the establishment of small farms should not interfere unjustly with present occupiers of land or those who have invested money upon its security. There is general sympathy With the small holdings plan of relief, but the necessity for keeping it as free as possible frohi blemish was particularly real, seeing that to some extent compulsory interference with contractual rights is provided for.