CAMBRIDGE DOMAIN TENANTS.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 325, 9 August 1898, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE DOMAIN TENANTS.

A meeting ot the lessees under the Cambridge Public Domain Board was held on Saturday. Present: Messrs R. Reynolds (who had convened the meeting), T. Wcllb, W. Tucker, J. Vickers, H. Preece, J. A. Fitzgerald. J. R. S. Richardson, G. Keeley, C. Hunter, W. Harris, A. McFarlane, W. Hickey, M. Dillon, John, Joseph and Isaac Looker, and Archdeacon Willis.

Mr Reynolds wa3 voted to the chair, aud he explained that he had taken the initiative in calling the meetiug as he was avvaie that the majority of the Domain leases would expire in the year 1902, and that according to the conditions of such leases the lands had to be laid down in grass dtuing the last four years of the term. He thought they would all agree that the rents they were now paying were the utmost the land was worth, and that if they were put up to public competition they would very probably not fetch as much. He therefore thought it advisable to call the tenants together to discuss the matter, and see if they deemed it advisable to approach the Domain Board with a view of getting the lands re leased to the present tenants at the expiration of the leases. Many of them had used their lands well, and Me thought it was only reasonable that those who had done so should be allowed to nap the benefit of their labours, but there were some who had done very little to their sections and they did not deserve consideration. He then moved that a petition be presented to the Domain Board as follows:—(1) That owing to the depreciation ot the value of land products, the lessees have not been able to recoup their original outlay in reclaiming, grassing and fencing their sections ; (2) that under these circumstances it would be harsh and entail inucl'i hardship for the Board to compel the lessees to re-grass their sections before the termination of their leases ; (3) that the rent now paid is the full market value of the sections, and is quite equal to what might reasonably be expected if the sections were now to be submitted to public competition; (4) that the Board be asked to forego their right to enforce the re-grassing ; (5) that the Board be asked to offer the present lessees who voluntarily re-grass their lands a right of renewal for 21 years from the end of the present term at a similar rental. Archdeacon Willis seconded the motion, and said he could speak with certainty about the tenants not having recouped themselves for their original outlay, He had two sections; they were ten acres, and he had spent upon them in fencing, clearing, manuring, putting in a well and pump, etc., £IOO. The interest on capital should be say £5, the annual rent was £5 10s Cd, and the rates 10s, making a total of £ll 0s 6d ; but the utmost he had received as rent for them was £lO per annum, and even then he had not had them occupied all the time, for lately they were vacent for as much as six months. The expenditure he had mentioned was the original outlay and did not include interim expenses for grass, manure, fencing, etc.", so they could sec that when all went right he was a loser to the extent of £1 0s 6d per annum and the cost of repairs. He added tint if he lost the land at the end of four years he would wholly hava lost his £IOO capital. Mr Wells stated he leased two sections at the northern part of the township, and he well recollected writing off £BO in connection with them. Mr Keeley said when the lands were fenced, posts cost from £8 to £lO per hundred, and those who erected them should have the benefit of them as long as possible. Mr Richardson ask ad if the Board could give the present lessees priority. Mr Wells said the Board only acred as deputy for the Governor who granted and accepted surrender of all leases, the business being done through the Minister for Lands. The Board had not considered the matter yet, and they ivould like to know the minds of the tenants on the matter. He thought the motion that had been proposed was as good a form as it could be put in, and that the request was only reasonable. He wished it understood that he was then speaking as a tenant and not as a member of the Domain Board. Mr Vickers stated he had some paddocks that could not be improved by being re-laid in grass. He had done them well and he presumed the Board would not require him to break them up and re-lay them. Mr Wells said he was sure the Board would not be put in the invidious position of saying what land should be relaid and what should not be. Wherever the line was drawn it must be a hard and fast one. Mr Vickers said if he had to break up his paddocks he should take all ha possibly could out of them, as someone might run him in the price for spite. Mr Preece trusted they would have the right of renewal, for he had erected a house aud made his home upon the section he leased ; so his would be a particularly hard case. The Chairman was sure the best lands would not fetch more than the present rents, and he did not think any of tkcm would be inclined to give the incoming tenants the benefit of their labours. If there was not a right of renewal granted, those lands that were left in the best state would, of course, fetch the most money. There was no hardship in being compelled to lay down the laud in grass if a renewal was granted ; and those who had not carried out the conditions did not deserve consideration. He had spent a considerable amount upon the sections he occupied, and nothing pleased him better than to see the laud in good heart; but if he could not get a re-lease, he should whip it all he could, to recoup himself for the outlay, and then put it in grass just at the end of the lease. He thought the request a reasonable one, and he believed the Board would do their best to comply with it. The motion was then put and unanimously agreed to. A petition was then drawn up, embodying the above resolution, and was signed by all present. Mr Reynolds and Archdeacon Willis were appointed to wait upon the Board aud present the petition, which it is expected will be signed by all the Domain tenants. A vote of thanks to Mr Reynolds for having called the meeting and for presiding terminated the meeting. The petition lies at the Board's office in Cambridge, in order that the tenants may call aud sign it.