POLITE LETTER WRITER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 212, 1 September 1908, Page 4

POLITE LETTER WRITER.

A CURIOUS KIMSTLE. TEOVBI.ES OF A CKOWX TENANT. The officials in the Crown binds Department are the recipients from timeto time of some curious letters. One correspondent has just favoured the Commissioner with a remarkable letter.

The letter opens with a prayer of thankfulness Hurt there had been " a change from that Russian system" which once controlled the work,of the Board. The writer then proceeds to set out bis grievance. "At the end of twelve years as a Crown tenant, I was behind with mv rates, i saw the local Council clerk, lie asked me if i was going to pav mv rates. 1 told him no, and called liis attention to the injustice we were getting at the hands of tin- Council. He said that he had nothing to do wilii it, mil pointed out people down the river that paid rates and never got anything done. 1 told him two wrongs do 'not make, one right, and told him to take it to -the Land Board; that is my landlord. Instead of doing that, he look it to Ihe S.M. Court. I knowing section lit of the Land Act of 181)2, I did not light the ease. Of course, lie done no good there. Then he notified me that he was going to take it to the Land Board. Of course, Hint is according to the Act. finally I sent a cheque for the amount of my rates; but to be sure to get a clean receipt I told the man I entrusted it with not to part with the cheque, but he did, and the Council's clerk look las law cost, and left me 15s iu arrears. Gentlemen, that is not according to the Act. He should be in Mount Eden. But. of course, that is his only way to get the law costs from a Crown tenant. I suppose he is the only man in the. British Empire that got that privilege gave lo him. I suppose the magistrate gave him that. Gentlemen, that clerk is pretty safe. '■ I was again summoned lo appear in Court. 1 was foolish enough to attend. ,1 made a statement that the Court hail no jurisdiction to try the case, and tint it wm the functions of the Land Boar.l. The magistrate said he had power, and made a long statement. 1 said, 'lf that be true, why did Jtot the constable colled the, money the last time you tried the ease';' That was too much, lie could not answer that, but roared out, • Will you pay the money now, and the constable will give you your receipt?' I said 'Xo.' Then he roared out, the like 1 have never heard before, threatening me with contempt of Court, and that I was the most ignorant galoot In the known world. It was a good job for me that I was a strong man, or 1 would be down on the floor. I made n move towards the door. I was ordered back, with the constable ready lo drag me back, suppose I did not came. -At this stage I was told that 1 would get it if he caught me there again. So you see I am become an outlaw; they can steal my sheep, cattle, hors-'i-, and" annoy me in every way. 1 have no protection; in fact, an outcast because section 12+ was not abided by. Don't you think it a grand thing to be a Crown tenant, to have to pay for every Tom, Jack, and Harry's mistakes? How" would you like it if you mas in my place? You .sanctioned the forfeiture of mv section for not paying money that there is no Act on the Statute Books to make me pay. 1 challenge you to prove it. You must admit that the system of the Land Board is rotten, and decidedly un-British. It is such an institution that an Englishman thinks do exist in Russia."

The correspondent proceeds to ask for a. letter justifying the action of the Board. "You need not lie afraid to hit out. I am 13'Ast., (il years old, and can still stand a hit, and don't need no nerve tonic. I am also very near lift., and have grown up through my hair, and not bad-looking. They thought they cniild I'rightiMi the money out of me. When they could not do that, they stole it, and the magistrate helped them. I wonder he did not lock me up and take the money out of my pocket. Contempt of Court! Don't you think they had better keep that commodity for their gaolbirds'! Just fancy liis telling a honourable man, with property, on the wrongs of the world, that may want his protection, what he will do with him when he catch him there again. Sir. it become untenantable. 1 had to "sell niv farm and my home, and, what's mure, to leave the country ill order to be a free man.

"Now, gentlemen, I now respectfully ask for the return of (hat money, luuiicIv, ;C1 Ms (ill, Sir Joseph Ward saul if is no use to have acts if they are nut anideil by. kSo say 1; it all causes confusion."