RENT ARREARS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1932, Page 5

RENT ARREARS

CROWN TENANTS

APPEAL BY MR RANSOM.

(Per Press Association — Copyright.)

WELLINGTON, July 8. An.appeal to the farming community to afford assistance to the Government, and particular}’ to the Lands Department, in tile solution of many. \ of the problems confi onting the man on the land during the present conditions, was made ,by Mr Ransom to a :/ deputat.orf from the New Zealand . Farmers’ Union to-day. He urged them to try arid look at the Depart- •> . meat’s (side of the problems that .it' was endeavouring to deal with. Mr Poison, M.P., urged that; even -EM if it meant straining the Dominion’s A , finances more than at present, the Orowri tenants should be kept on;the land. He referred to the embarrassment of local bodies inability to pay rates, and. suggested that even-though it might.involve wip- .V, ing out all of the liabilities, .or making ‘ considerable reductions, the question jj, of the arrears of rent, should be seriously considered. The farmers also -. N sought the Minister’s assistance in placing before Cabinet the need for revaluations of farm land*. - .yj . : Referring to the forfeit- '-i urea of Crown Lands, the Minister,(in' reply, , stated: "We are trying to:!': .? meet the position as fairly,, justly, and honourably sis we can, l ean ns. • > sure you that some of the eases sub- > ; mitted from, time to' time are particularly difficult to handle, and' L have oriven very definite instructions to the Under-Seer eta ry that, as far as ' i forfeitures are concerned, none are to be submitted to me for 'cnnsifL-ntmn ' - v ; until, first of all,, the Land 'Boards . have exhausted'everv: o T, o n r f " , ” + -' of '. ’ maintaining the men on the land.’' ;

Turning to the question of ratm", Mr Ransom said that to grant a flat rate of remission regardless of each individual’s circumstances, would he quite impossible. Large remissions of rent have already been made, and further large amounts have to be written off. There might be some*, lack of uniformity among the'.various Land Boards regarding the arrears of rent, but he was meeting the comm is- ■ sioners and was trving to arrange for uniformity of action. ' ; The Minister said the arrears as’ At March 81 last amounted to 1 £1.289,117, and postponements amounted to £298.388, making a total 0f;£1,587,505. To suggest that these arrears and these postponements should be wiped out was to take a Very serious responsibility. However, -lie undertook to give special consideration to special rating' cases where deterioration took place, or where revaluation had been , practised. \ 1 > •