CROWN TENANTS' REBATE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 42, 13 November 1920, Page 10

CROWN TENANTS' REBATE

INTERESTING FACT REVEALED

A CONCESSION AND AN ADDITION An interesting fact was revealed by tho Minister of Lands in the House ot Representatives All Thursday in the course of a statement regarding tho 'i'iruunien. estate, ono of the first estates purchased for tho Government for sctliuincnt by returned soldiers. J-he -Minister said that this estate, which was bought in 1910, had been loaded' to cover the rebate granted to Crown tenants tor prompt payment of rent, i • "A percentage was added to cover tlio rebate given to tenants for the prompt payment of rent," said Mr. Guthrie. This had been the practice for the last twenty years. The money was added to tlio capital value of the estate, and then if tlio tenants paid tho rent promptly they got a rebate of their own money. The present Government has abolished that." l l ri The rebate of 10 per cent, to Crown tenants for prompt payment of rent was authorised in the Land Act of 1900. The lntc Mr. Scddon was blamed as well as praised at the time for what appeared to bo a concession to the Crown tenants at tlio expense of the general community. But it does not appear that many people were aware that except in the ease of tho estates purchased and settled prior to the passing of the 1900 Act, the concession was not really a concession at all.