REQUESTS OF CROWN TENANTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19835, 26 June 1934, Page 6

REQUESTS OF CROWN TENANTS.

To the Editor of “ The Timaru Herald ” Sir—l have read with interest tna remarks of some of the crown tenants at the recent gathering, at which three of our M.P.s were present. One tenant spoke of reducing the rental of small grazing runs. Does that speaker know of any crown tenants who shepherds his sheep in a huge car, instead of using the more economical and time honoured method of the old hack or horse and gig? Does he know ci any crown tenant, who cannot pay nis rent or grumbles about it, yet who can race, hunt, golf and tour around in an expensive car—all very expensive pleasures? He may or he may not, but it is a fact there are too many of these self-styled “gentlemen farmers” who like to swank it at the country’s expense, and strangely enough these are the tenants who get away with it every time, whilst a brainless blighter like myself (also a crown tenant, mark you!) goes on paying his rent and taxes after the foolish manner of his kind. It is a true bill that landowners in several instances, sold their land to the Government, retaining the best parts for themselves or their sons, but why the Government agreed to these ; terms is a mystery, when there were sc many better class properties to be had for settlement. Yet these favoured people expect the same consideration as those men who were placed on the poorer ground. I sincerely hope that when this matter sorties before Parliament, each tenant’s case will be thoroughly investigated and adjustments made in a fair and unbiassed manner. There are many sound tenants we know, who try to work their farms under the best economic conditions, but there are others who take advantage of the times and just indulge in absurd swank at the country’s expense. Another matter that might claim the attention of our M.P.s is this. Why does a soldier, who can earn £5 a week or more in a business or through business activities, receive a pension of £5 a week or more, whilst a soldier almost totally disabled receives a miserable pittance of 10/- or so? That is a matter which I am sure requires considerable adjustment, for it seems to me if a man is able to earn £5 a week, there is no need for the Government to add on another £5. I hope our M.P.s will give notice to these points, and when matters come before Parliament, they will endeavour to get a fair deal for our disabled men and our “triers,” be they crown tenants or otherwise.—l am, etc., CROWN TENANT.

TIMARU MUNICIPAL POLICY. To the Editor of “ The Timaru Herald " Sir, —Since the publication of my letter on the above subject, which appeared in your issue of June 18, I have discovered another experiment by the Council, which is likely to prove costly to the ratepayers without serving any useful purpose, viz., that the charges for radiators is to be increased from 2id per unit for the first 225 units, 2d for the next 225 units, and lid for the balance, to 7d per unit for the first 20

units and 4d per unit for the balance. Whether the experiment will increase or decrease the revenue from the sale I of electricity is a problem time alone can tell. Another anomaly is the charge for hot water on Caroline Bay. Anyone desiring to make their own tea, say. four cups, the cost works out as follows: Tea id, sugar and milk Id, and hot water 2d. The borouglYs water I supply is the most essential, and probably the best regulated service controlled by the Council, but it does not appear that the whole of the revenue produced by the' water rate is used exclusively for maintenance of the supply. It undoubtedly helps to keep down the rates, but at what cost? The domestic consumer in Timaru is charged double the sum needed to defray the cost of the electrical service, but it rarely happens that his savings in the reduced rate balances his excessive electricity accounts. For instance, a majority of domestic consumers’ rates probably average £lO per year, so that those whose rates are £2OO, or more, per year, receive 20/for each 1/- saved by the small ratepayer. Many of those ratepayers who share in the £2500 surplus on the electricity accounts for last financial year, have not contributed one penny towards it, besides doing their utmost to prevent current charges being reduced to the small domestic consumer. I attribute the present obtuse business ability of the Council to a plethora of financial geniuses, whose aim seems invariably to obtain a maximum of revenue for a minimum of service, and with an eye to protect the big man from the smaller fry. It is alleged that in olden times, in England, if a man stole a common, he was knighted, but if he simply stole a goose off that common, they hanged him. That law has been repealed, but you will observe that the man who converts a car and its contents to his own use meets with far more lenient treatment than the miscreant who similarly walks off with the spare wheel. It is difficult to find any law. or to get any new Act passed which does not aim to protect the holders of property from those who want, or need it. I make no comment on the position. Readers may figure it out for themselves. However, I advise owners of radiators within the borough not on any account to scrap them. Within 12 months another Pharoah may have arisen, who knows not Joseph—the big ratepayer—and who will institute new scales of charges in all matters of municipal services. The demand is for equal service to each citizen, and not to a select few. with the sole object of facilitating industry, providing reasonable transit facilities; to assist in the town’s progress, and generally to make it a little more attractive than other towns as a most comfortable and desirable place to live in.

I cannot endorse the pessimistic view adopted by the Council, whose chief aim seems to be “to keep down the rates.” It is not to be accomplished by spoon-feeding the coal merchants, flour millers and a few others, at the expense of those who. so far. are being bled for that purpose. Has the Council tried penny sections for the bus service? Has it tried to fill them With passengers, instead of being content to run them nearly empty? Municipal enterprise is appreciated so long as it is recognised as a genuine attempt to serve the community, but when a so-called service develops into a money-making scheme, so that the profits may be handed over mainly to a particular section of such community, its popularity begins to wane. In the present instance, it is the unpopularity of the controllers of these services that is waxing. I believe that the Government imposes an absurdly heavy penalty for the smallest overdraft, beyond the continuous supply of electricity contracted for. Instead of the Council rushing the consumers with inconsiderate and panicky legislation, would it not have been better to secure an augmented supply from the Government, or Power Board, and also to arrange for a reasonable concession on the contract price during periods of low consumption. The generators at Lake Coleridge are said to be automatically controlled so that power, unused, remains stored in the Lake till demanded. It has no claim to fair dealing when goods unclaimed are subsequently resold and recharged to the same buyer. If one’s baker demanded 3 - for the .spare loaf in his basket, because it exceeded the usual demand, it would be clearly I evidence of the man’s mental derangement. However, as Government officials are beyond reproach, the impeachment is passed on to the Council, and by the Council to the consumer, with interest added. It now remains for the consul ler to take or reject his prescribed medicine. It is no pleasure for me to write disparagingly of the Municipal Council, but I dearly love a square deal, and my aim is to obtain it.—l am. etc., C. H. MASON.

THANKS FROM MARLBOROUGH. To the Editor of “ The Timaru Herald ” Sir—l am instructed to convey to you the thanks and appreciation of my organisation for the very welfe written article on the Marlborough Sounds, which you published in a recent ~ ue of your paper. The article received wide publicity, and was very favourably commented on. We thank you. I am, etc., „ , J. H. SAUNDERSON, Secretary, Pelorus Sounds Tourist Bureau, Broughton Bay, Picton, June 19.