THAMES HIGH SCHOOL TENANTS

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43335, 9 June 1908, Page 3

THAMES HIGH SCHOOL TENANTS

[To the'Editor.] . Sir,ip-In. your, issue of the 6th inst., under the aboye heading, you publish the report of the Board of Governors, after their, annual visit to their Waiorongomai Endowment, in which they state that they found most of the farms in an unsatisfactory condition, and they appear to be at a loss to know why this should be so. To me, sir, the reason is as plain as a b c, but thdn, sir, I am a farmer, and not a doctor ,or storekeeper like the, Governors who came to inspect and criticize the,work of the poorifarmers.who are trying to make a living out of their farms under most tryjng circumstances, and one of the worst land tenures in New

Zealand, viz., a lease from the High j School Board with a rack rent for 21 ! - years, and nothing for improvements ! These High School Governors may be shrewd business men in their own particular callings, but they are not farmers, * v afeid therefore not in a position to understand why their tenants are in such a bad position. They make comparisons between the past and present and between their endowment farms and the farms about them, to proye that their present

tenants are not wprking their holdings as they ought to. They go on to say that these'itenants ought to be turned out as there are Iplenty of others ready to step into their places. What a splendid lot of Irish landlords they would make. Shure it’s at Home . .they ought to be in the Ould Country, where they would get splendid billets as Land Stewards, whose duty; I am told, it is to evict the poor tenants, who, through some misfortune mightget a bit behind with their rent. Whether it is through a flood one season

or a drought the next it does not matter, out they must go. Oh ! sir, I have read of these things happening at Home, but shure I never lthought I would live to see such things happen in my native home, fair New Zealand; but here it is, right at iny very door. Now, sir, as to the companion between the Endowment farms and' those adjacent. The former are held under the worst lease in New Zealand, while the. surrounding farms are ; all freehold;.; this explanation should Suffice. Then again, as to their previous tenants, prior to the creameries starting, I was acquainted 'with them all, and they did not dejifend on their famrs fox* a living. They were all contractors, and made good money on road and mine contracts, and spent a lot of it improving their farms, for the simple reason that they got twothirds of their improvements at the ter-

HUaaladii of their lease,' and yet these Governors compare them with the present -tenants, who, I believe, are paying more nothing for improvements! pthe ‘Governors think it a °f them tenants to go out and work a few shillings to help to keep the Volf from the door. I would ask these gentleman' how many of their original" tenants took up their farms under the new lease ? Sir, there is only one commendable item in their report, and that is. where they recommend that a practical man be sent to report annually. This is indeed a step in the right direction, and if he be 1 a man with a little humanity it will be a good thing for the settlers. I notice that Mr Bums in taking- the

tenants requests in order, did not deal with what I consider' the mast important °f a 8,.. viz., ‘ that they approach the Goyermnent’ tb take over the Endowment. This, in my opinion, is the best thing that could ;happen, both for the Board, the tenants, and' the district, but I am afraid the Hon. MoNab would be against this, as it would not be in accord with his land policy. I know the history of this Endowment since. it was first surveyed, and if it, is an -example of what future

endowments are to be, I pity the country, for this one has stopped the progress of our district, as regards farming and mining, both: of which it has handicapped to such an extent that it has crushed them

out of existence within the boundaries of the Endowment; and there is good land for farming, and great probabilities for naming within the area in question, and if the High School, Governors were a bit considerate and would deal more liberally with .tfyeir tenants and their mining rights it would be better for all concerned. Apologising for taking- up' so much of your space.—l am, etc., One of the Freeholders Alongside. Waiorongomai, June 7th, 1908.