CROWN TENANTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 19093, 27 January 1932, Page 4

CROWN TENANTS.

To the Editor o l " The Timaru Herald.” Sir,—Reading in your valued paper, I notice that in Western Australia, Crown tenants have been granted a 25 per cent, reduction on their annual rentals; also 1 per cent, off mortgages. We Crown tenants might ask what have the Government done for their settlers in this country? Practically nothing judging by results. Our politicians tell the farmers that remission or postponement is obtainable, but from my own experience on making application, the Commissioner quoted the Act in which he said that the applicant must prove to the Land Board that he is wholly unable to pay, before relief can be given; in other words the "ship must be on the rocks before it can be saved.” Bankruptcy must be knocking at the door. The poor farmer is not allowed to anticipate his position ahead. If we Crown tenants want to get relief and our rights, we must make some showing and fight, both in and out of Parliament. The Commissioner can only do what Parliament allows him; certainly we could do with a good deal more sympathy and assistance from that quarter than we get. We are supposed to have a Crown tenant representative on the Canterbury Land Board, but I learn that this member was so interested in our welfare that on being invited to attend the Executive meeting of the Crown Tenants’ Association he preferred to absent himself, although he was in Timaru during the holding of their meeting. That, Mr Crown Tenant, is your representative that. Mr Crown Tenant is your share on the Land Board. I would ask every farmer holding Government leases, to ask his conscience whether he could be classed a rail-sitter or whether he is doing his utmost bit, by being a member of any of the several farmers’ associations, who each specialise in the different farmers’ interests. The work of these associations costs time and money, and the well-known quotation that "unity is strength” was never more applicable. The expense should not come into this picture, for the Crown Tenants’ Association’s subscription is made to suit the humblest purse. Be a member of your nearest branch, put your case of hardship before your executive officers, and show the Government and public how 99 per cent, of the producers of this ‘‘Our God’s Own Country” exist. The hours worked by the average farmer, would make a Labour Union official howl his voice away in anger, if applied to his unionists.—l am, etc., ‘ KLOWN” TENANT.