LAND BOARD ELECTION.

Southland Times, Issue 18838, 3 June 1920, Page 2

LAND BOARD ELECTION.

To the Editor. Sir, —I am pleased to see that the returned soldiers have a candidate standing for the Land Board, who, it is to be hoped will be returned on election day. The sitting member says in his circular that he will do his best in the interest of the Crown tenants. By this does he mean to renew leases and extend the time from 14 to 21 years'/ I understand that this has been done with some runs in Southland and as far as I know they were neither advertiser! nor reported when the lease expired. Anri wiiat is more these runs are much more valuable than they were 14 years ago when the Land Board refused to extend the lease for one occupier —not the present one. In some crises a run could be cut up so that two soldiers could make an easy living where there is now only one tenant. While the war was on there was great talk of settling soldiers on the laud, etc., and I think (hey should at least stand an equal chance with the present occupiers of getting the runs, Present occupiers have nad their innings while the soldiers were away fighting and it is hardly fair that the prow:'. 4 , occupiers should have their leases extended without giving a soldier nr anyone else a chance to compete, when possibly the Government would be in pocket as the rent would be much higher than it is at present..—l am, etc.. CIVILIAN.