OTOROHANGA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 416, 22 November 1911, Page 5

OTOROHANGA.

| TOWNSHIP SECTIONS. Own Correspondent. A deputation of from 12 to 15 persons who took up actions at the land sale in Otorohanga last June waited upon Mr Bowler, the president of the Waikaio-Maniapoto Maori Land Board. The, deputation stated that they had bought their sections at the board'* sale ami most of them had signed the forma of lease sent to them, but Inter found out that the terms and conditions were not what the hoard had agreed to give. Some of them had applied for loans on their sections to enable them to build home? and their applications for loans were refused on account of the form of lee.se not providing for compensation. They understood that instructions had been given to have new forms of lease printed with the compensation clause, but as they had bought, their sections from the Waikato-Maniapoto .Board they took the opportunity of interviewing the president when he was in the township and would like to get their proper leases. Also the lessees had paid their lirst six months' rental and there was another payment due soon and as they had not yet received a proper title and could not de'la with the sections, nor proceed with any building they felt that they ought not to have to pay rent until they had a proper title to their sections. Mr Bowler, the president, in reply stated lie was pleased the deputation had waited upon him as he wished to explain the position. The board were, quite satisfied the leases did not have the conditions in them that they should have and as soon as he found this out he had written to Wellington about the matter. The leases provided .for the recurrent right of renewal at '.he end of each 21 years, but did not; provide for compensation. lie had just received a draft of the form of lease which was now being printed and they would probably be ready in two or three weeks. He would then send a man up with the new lease s and issue them in place of the oilier ones. In regard to rebate of rentals he. did not think lessees had sutl'ered hardship. He only knew (if two who had I applied for and been refused loans for j building on their section;-'. It was here pointed out; that, when it was known that loans could not he ruined ! on the leases the lessees would no!. ; apply for loans, Mr Bowler said j the board would not he hard to deal j with, and if anyone had suH'ered hard- i ship and would put their case into into j writing, he would bring it nefore the | board for favourable consideration.

The deputation then thanked Mr Bowler for tho cordial reception he had given them and withdrew.