The Free Rent Question.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12379, 1 February 1908, Page 2

The Free Rent Question.

(Per United Press Association^

AUCKLAND, January 31. An important question concerning rebate of rent to Crown tenants under the Bush and Swamp Act came before the Auckland Lard Board at its meeting this afternoon. Settlers taking up leases under the Act referred to are allowed to hold the land rent free for four years after paying the first half-year's rent. aH, however, they transfer the lease they are required to pay the rent in full Up till the date of the transfer, and it is optional with the Board whether the transferee shall be allowed a remission for the balance of the unexpired term of four years. It was the latter point that cropped up in connection with the transfer of several leases in the Opotiki district which have recently changed hands at a considerable profit. The Commissioner (Mr J. Mackenzie) said that the intention of the Act, as he took it, was to assist settlers in the back counry during the early years of their occupation and before the land was productive. If, however, they chose to traffic in the land the concession ought not to be allowed to the incoming tenant. A number of the cases, he said, indicated that the land waji beyig made use of for speculative purposes, and as a speculator could take up the land, pay a half-year's rent, do a certain amount of improvements, and then sell out at a huge profit, the transaction bein<j made more jjrofitabel from the fact that the land was rent free to the end of the four years*"frdm the time when it was originally "taken up, this seemed to be tlie position if the transferees were allowed"the benefit of the rebate.

It was agreed ,after considerable discussion, to defer the matter until the next meeting of the Land Board in order' that it might 'be discussed by a full Board,, including the representative* of the Crown tenants.