PIRONGIA TENURES.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17614, 19 January 1929, Page 5

PIRONGIA TENURES.

PUBLIC MEETING HELD. FEEUNQ RUNB HIOH. Feeling ran high when the meeting convened by leaseholders of Pirongia reserves and domain land was held to discuss possible means of improving their present tenures. Mr J. Buchanan, as convenor, explained the reason for calling the meeting, and said it was separate from the endeavours of the Absentee Land Committee, although one had a bearing on the other inasmuch that without an improved tenure for the reserve settlers, present and potential, the problem of Pirongia’s waste land could not be satisfactorily settled. He asked Mr Grace to take the chair end more fully explain the position. Mr Grace said that with a total of less than one thousand freehold town sections, comprising the east and west townships of Pirongia, there was close upon the same area set aside as reserves under various forms and administered principally by the Pirongia Domain Board, which was the largest leasing authority, and the Waipa County Council. With the exception of the racecourse, which was being excluded from the present deliberations, the Domain Board’s 410 acres were divided into seven sections, most of which were in a very poor state of cultivation, owing no doubt to the nature of the lease under which the land was held.

An Afterthought. The chairman described the lease as an afterthought, because the Intention of the authorities in setting aside the land as a town belt was that it should be used for recreation purpor, is. The use of the land for farming purposes was considered to be purely temporary; the refusal under the provisions of the lease to allow the holder to build showed this. Good settlers were slow to take up the land, and Pirongia wanted good, progressive settlers more than anything else. A sound tenure was the basis of good farming, and a good lanure was not offering, so good settlers were naturally shy of the land. Mr Grace concluded by saying that it would be all to the good if the land was sold outright, as had been suggested by the late member for the district, Mr D. S.. Reid, who pointed out at the time that legislation existed Under which this could be done. In any case Mr Grace considered that at least a good sound lease, similar to what was known as the Glasgow lease, should be granted. Mr J. McD. Livingstone, together with other members of the Domain Board, was in attendance by invitation from the convenor.

Nothing to Complain Of. Mr Livingstone said he could not see what the lessees had to complain about. There was nothing wrong with the domain lease so far as he could see, and many of those like himself were not nearly as well off with their so-called freehold. If the land was sold what was to become of the Domain Board and its commitments? (What the commitments amounted to was not explained). The settlers here should confine themselves to the absentee land and leave the domain lands

alone. In any case, Mr Livingstone declared, the meeting was not in order, as it had not been advertised. Cries of “Yes, it has.” Mr Macky, chairman of the Domain Board, said the board members should have been notified in writing. The chairman said he would rule that the meeting was in order, as care had been taken to notify ail concerned in a reasonable way. Mr Livingstone said it was a reflection on the board to say that the lease was no good and that the board’s action in not having it improved had helped to keep the place back. Aattacklng the Law. The chairman said they were not necessarily attacking the board, which, after all, was administering the land, according to law. The leaseholders were attacking the law and were justly entitled to do so. Mr Miller said a Glasgow lease should be granted. Mr Fear said .if the land could not be sold this should be done in the interests of everyone. Mr Eyre considered the land should be sold outright. Much of it was well nigh useless, notwithstanding what Mr Livingstone had said, and he would move that the authorities be asked to deal with the land in a manner similar to that being followed in regard to the absentee land. This was seconded by Mr Buchanan. An amendment was proposed by Mr Miller that a Glasgow lease be asked for. This was carried. Messrs Livingstone and Macky declared that it would be necessary, if the lease was changed, for the present holders to vacate, so' that the public could compete. 'Where improvements were effected, however, it might be possible to load the sections, so that the incoming tenant could compensate the deposed settler to the value of the improvements. A better feeling was manifest after this, and the meeting dispersed in a more friendly atmosphere.