CAMBRIDGE WEST DOMAIN LEASES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3122, 19 July 1892, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE WEST DOMAIN LEASES.

TO THE EDITOR. Srii,— Sunn months ago, the Cambridge .Domain Hoard was petitioned bv its lessees in Cambridge West for a reduction of rent. At that time the Board accepted an otfer of 5s per year for certain sections, thus virtually lowering the rant in one instincu to something like, yet pxeeeding its present value. The other lessees thought that the same reduction should be made all round, ami petitioned the Board to that effect. This was surely not an unreasonable request, and if I remember rightly, found some favour with certain members of the Board, but, for some reason, the consideration of the 3ubject was postponed t■■ the next meeting, and since that we have heard nn more about it. Now, Sir, the Cambridge West people are not gome to be put off in this way, and will see that that the matter is treated in a straight-forward maimer. We are of i opinion that if it is considered in a candid and reasonable manner, the justice of the plea cannot be doubted for a moment. When we took up the leases the Domain Board said in effect " You must pay seven and sixpence per acre for thesa lands, or go without them." Had tho upset price been fixed the same then as now, most of the sections would havo fetched no higher price than those that were leased about six months ago. The onus of fixing the rent therefore lies wholly with the Board, and not with the lessees, who wanted the land and were forced by the Board to pay more than the market value for it. I would also call attention to the fact that since the petition was sent in a large number of acre sections in the township have been sold by auction by the Crown Lands Board, the result showing unmistakably that the value of the land here is not more than £T, petacre. I cau hardly think therefore that the Domain Board will be doing its duty as a public administratsr if it continues to t;ike advantage of a technicality in the law in order to collect more than a fair rent from its Cambridge West lessees,—l am, etc. I 72 and 73.