DERELICT FARMS.

Wairarapa Age, 14 March 1922, Page 4

DERELICT FARMS.

According to statements made at Eketahuna County Council the other day there are a number of sections r the Tiraumea soldiers ’ settlement which have simply been deserted by the soldiers who formerly occupied them, and the unpaid rates have to be provided for by the other ratepayers. There is a good deal of difference of opinion as to the capacity of the soldiers to. pay. One soldier in paying his rates complained that others who were able did not pay. Another intimated his intention to carry out the direction of the Land Board and pay put of the proceeds of his wool. A councillor remarked that rate notices had been sent to a man who had walked off his section a year ago. The total amount of rates outstanding was £lOOO. The position is certainly not satisfactory either to the settlers or to the Council. The Government, too, having foregone rents and made manyconcessions to help the settlers, has a right to fool aggrieved as w T ell as the county council in cases where the men who can pay do not, or where men wal‘k off their sections without notice. The latter class >of offence, we believe, is much less frequent than is sometimes supposed. The forthcoming visit of the Minister of Lands to all soldier settlements in the Wairarapa will be looked forward to with interes.