STATE’S LOSS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19719, 9 December 1926, Page 7

STATE’S LOSS

DETERIORATED LANDS HALF A MILLION INVOLVED CROWN’S ASSETS BEING WRITTEN DOWN MINISTER EXPLAINS POSITION (Per Press WELLINGTON, Dee. S. The following statement was made to-day by the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands:—“Want of knowledge of many questions involved in the thorough investigation of the land deterioration problem probably accounts for accusations of delay. I admit freely I had hoped to sec the work much further ahead by this time, but it should be remembered that the present year has been an extremely wet one. As the central committees of the North island are working in most difficult and inaccessible country progress has necessarily been slow.

“The reference to ctich committee costing £4500 per annum is wide of t he mark, as, with the exception of the chairman, the members of the committees are permanent public servants from the Valuation Department and the Lands Department. It should be pointed out also that the investigations were not properly in train prior to July 1, as the settlers were given ufitil June 30, 1926, to lodge any applications. “A total of 1278 applications for relief has been received from both leaseholders and freeholders scattered over a wide area. These applicants are interspersed amongst settlers who have not applied for relief, and in common justice to the latter a general revision under the Valuation Act for rating and taxes purposes must follow the present investigation. It follows therefore that a sound basis of values must be adopted by the present committees if justice is to be given to the settlers as a whole later on in the matter of local taxation.

“To date only about 360 recommendations have reached the head office although it is known that a large number have reached’the district offices, where the recommendations have first to be dealt with before going forward to the head office. Of the 360 reports which have reached that office 280 ha* 7 © been finally dealt with, and I have approved of writings off to the amount of over £91,000 from the rental values of Crown sections, together with a further £4OOO to cover adjusted rents retrospectively to 1923. I have also approved of complete remission of rent for periods varying from five to fifteen years.

“In practically all the cases where delay has occurred in coming to a decision it has been due to the Department endeavouring to come to satisfactory arrangement with mortgagees. Jt was never intended that the Act should be used to improve the position of those holding such interests.

“Anxious as I am to sec the whole matter cleared, up as soon, as possible, and recognising to the full what delay means to many, I am convinced that arriving at decisions by haphazard methods would only lead to further complications later on. It will be seen from the above figures that if the tome rate of progress is maintained a sum of not less than £50,000 will completely disappear from the Crown’s assets in land; also that a good proportion of the asset in such districts will for years to come yield no interest to the State. In the eyes of some this may appear a small matter. I, however, cannot view my responsibilities to individual and general taxpayers so lightly. Ever since I took office, years ago, I have been confronted with the necessity for writing off from 'he soldier, drainage and deteriorated lands accounts. No man can say I have shirked those responsibilities either as Minister of Lands or as a member of the Cabinet, all the members of which have given me loyal support. No doubt the much easier course for myself and the Government would have been to hide the losses, but we have preferred the open road and have faced the position irrespective of criticism.”