SHEEPOWNERS’ PLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1932, Page 3

SHEEPOWNERS’ PLIGHT

fTENANTS’ APPEAL FOR RELIEF. ;> .v-Vf/ ' March 2. %\ On behalf of a number of,members Otago and'; Southland , Sheepotimers’ of| Employers,-;,..,Mr Bitchener /Waitakj) and Mr’ de (Awaru»), have presented a petition stating t hat .. these pas tor a 1 tenants of the Crown urgently desire relief by refund of rent and reduction of rent for the remainder of the. lease, and extension of term. This, they state, is justified by the disastrous prices for wool during two seasons. The land concerned is chiefly of light carrying capacity, mainly suitable for the merino and half-bred type, the surplus stock from which ; is unsuitable for export. Gross returns for wool and surplus stock approximate only one-third of the average of the ten to fifteen years preceding, 1929, though rents and finances ha'd'^hfecpme;adjusted to the 1929 level. Even if costs were reduced to prewar level the petitioners could not carry on without help. They add that the general terms of" relief under the Land Act are too indefinite and protracted in. application in many cases, where further financing depends absolutely on being allowed to accumulate.