CROWN TENANTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19571, 18 August 1933, Page 12

CROWN TENANTS

MEETING WITH MINISTER PRIMARY PRODUCERS’ PROBLEMS Several matters affecting the Crown tenants of South Canterbury were brought under the notice of the Minister of Lands (the Hon. E. A. Ransom), who met a large gathering of members of the South Canterbury Crown Tenants’ Association in Timaru last night. The president (Mr D. O. Kidd), occupied the chair. The Minister was accompanied by the Undersecretary of Lands (Mr W. Robertson), and the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Christchurch (Mr W. Stewart), others present including Messrs A. E. Kerr (president of the New Zealand Executive of the Crown Tenants' Association, T. D. Burnett, M.P., for Temuka, and P. R. Talbot (president of the South Canterbury Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union). In extending a welcome to the Minister and other visitors the chairman recalled the last visit of Mr Ransom to Timaru, when he had conferred with Crown tenants. The Minister after that conference had promised to make a statement, and this he had done to the advantage of the tenants. Substantial reductions in rent had been made and this action which had been much appreciated, had brought about a better understanding between the Crown and its tenants. He assured the Minister that tenants of the Crown were not out to avoid their liabilities. There were, however, many who had not faced financial embarrassment before and they felt their position very keenly. Considering the state of the country, said Mr Kidd, it was essential that the primary producer should be assisted as much as possible. Closer Co-operation Desired. The first matter submitted to the Minister was a desire for closer cooperation between the Lands Department and the Advances to Settlers Department. Mr C. W. Markham (secretary of the Association), said that it had come to members’ knowledge that the two departments could not see eye to eye with each other. If they were amalgamated. the Association thought it would be better for settlers who would then have only one department with which to argue. It had been suggested that perhaps the Lands Department could take over all rural lands and houses leaving the town properties to the Advances to Settlers Department. After a general discussion during which individual cases were cited, Mr A. G. Morrison said that if the proposal aimed at greater efficiency it should take material form. The operations of the Land Board and the inability of the State Advances Department to make concessions were referred to by Mr Stewart, who considered that only in isolated cases could any exception be taken to the present arrangement. The Land Board was doing its utmost to meet tenants during these very difficult times. Mr Burnett said that from his observations of the position it would be a step in the right direction if a liaison officer with power to act could be appointed to co-ordinate the work of the two bodies. This would aim for greater expediency and efficiency. Minister's Reply. The IJinister expressed pleasure at the opportunity of again meeting the Crown tenants and thanked the chairman for his reference to what had transpired after his last visit. It was pleasing to find that there was no desire for a revaluation, as all realised that there was no basis on which prices could be fixed at the present time. If the tenants had insisted on a revaluation they would be worse off than at present, when they could make individual applications to the Board and have them considered. The Government desired that Crown tenants should farm their areas and at the same time was fully appreciative of the difficulties under which the men on the land worked. If this country was to prosper then the primary producers must carry out their undertakings successfully. The Government was endeavouring to meet the position not only from the point of view of Crown tenants, but in the interests of the country as a whole. At the present time the arrears of rent and interest amounted to a large sum. while other large sums had been written off during the last two years. There had of late, been talk of regulation of exports but he impressed on the gathering the necessity of maintaining the maximum of production. If the country could not find one market then it could look for another. Failing that, it could find other uses for primary products. As the Acting Minister of Scientific and Industrial Research, he had been discussing the possibilities of putting butterfat to other than human consumption uses. Referring to the Question raised by the Association the Minister said that there should be closer co-operation, but amalgamation was very doubtful. By the formation of several committees representative of Government Departments and other interests, the co-opera-tion between the two departments was growing, and that tended to more uniformity. The Superintendent of the State Advances Department had no power to make remissions, but no doubt the Minister of Finance would take into consideration the many difficulties Government mortgagors' were up against. Mr Coates, he was sure, was keen to safeguard the interests of primary producers. Soldier Settlers’ Budgets. A better and more flexible system for soldier settlers’ budgets was sought by the Association, Mr Markham pointing out that those working under the budget system were meeting with many hardships. A comprehensive review of the position as it affected soldier settlers was given by Mr Morrison, who contended that such settlers should be given direct representation on the Land Board. His next point was that there should be a reconstituted revaluation board. He submitted that the reductions so far made had amounted in the case of soldier settlers only to 3/2 an acre, while postponements had amounted to a penny an acre more. His final suggestion was that interest on the current farm accounts should be reduced by H per cent. Mr A. S. Airey registered a protest against a disability pension being deducted from a settler’s living allowance. Mr Stewart said that there was a danger of having the budget system too flexible, and the Department was obliged to make allowances on lines similar to privat firms. The Minister said it was desirable that when a tenant found himself in difficulties the nand Board should budget for him and thus assist the tenant to remain on his holding. He admitted that the budget was not a very generous one. but it was much better than relief work. The Government did not under-estimate the value of services given by returned men. but

it must be remembered that any losses made by the Department had to be borne by the taxpayers. Other returned men who were not settlers were included in the body of taxpayers. He did not agree with the principle that special interests should have special representation on the Land Board, the members of which were very fair and did not recognise class distinction. He had had reports that the returned soldiers had been meeting their payments well, and he congratulated them on that account. It was not in the best interests of the returned men and the country that ex-soldiers should be regarded as a class apart. It had been suggested that what was wanted was an indemnity for the past and security for the future. “Crown tenants have got both. You have the Government behind you and no section of the community is more secure,” said the Minister. Notwithstanding the fact that postponements had exceeded remissions it had to be admitted that the former system was a safeguard of the position. As far as writing off was concerned, they were all Crow’ll tenants and would receive equal treatment. Thanks to the Minister, Mr Burnett and the Departmental officials for their interest, was extended by the chairman, and heartily endorsed by the meeting.