CROWN TENANTS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1932, Page 5

CROWN TENANTS

PROBLEM OF RENT ARREARS. WELLINGTON, March 2.' An urgent was put by Mr M’Leod (Wairarapa) to the Minister of Lands in the House to-day regarding the position of Crown lessees in arrears with their rent. He asked if it was the Government’s policy to distrain on stock for overdue rent; as lessees wero being notfied by the banks that overdrafts could not be granted or renewed unless the Lands Department gave an undertaking not to distrain on stock for overdue rent.- Mr M’Leod pointed out that it was absolutely. necessary for those farming for fat lambs to be able to borrow at the present period, but if the possibility of distraint existed their finance was tied up. The Hon E. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands, replied that generally the Department’s policy was not to distrain of * overdue rent, but it was desirable where a tenant was unable to make satisfactory arrangements with his banker or stock firm, owihg to t;lm possibility of distraint, t 0 submit in's case to the Commissioner of Crown Lands who,, if satisfied with the manner in which the farm was managed and the inability of the tenant under present conditions to meet rent arrears, might give the required assurance.