A Dilatory Crown Tenant.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4022, 27 January 1892, Page 3

A Dilatory Crown Tenant.

Invercauoit.t., January 26. The case of Haldane, pastoral tenant, who was fined' hj the Beceiver of Land Revenue the maximum peualty of £1 per dny for hoing 81 days lato in the payment of his rent, was brlore the Land Board to-day, The Crown Solicitor's opinion was read to the effect that tho penalty must bo fixed and recovered through the Pesident Magistrate's Court, but tho members expressed the opinion it waß tho intention of Parliament 1 that tho Board should assess the fine. JgHaldiine wrotu admitting tho fault, stating that he had no money when tho. rent was due. It was resolved to reduce the amount to Is per day, and tho receiver was instructrd to submit future oases of a similar nature to the Board to givo tliem an opportunity to lix the fine, Receiver AlcNab, in letter to the Board, said : —" As an accounting ollicor to the Treasury I am responsible fur the moneys collected, and might be surcharged with any deficiency, The Act fixes the penally at any sum not exceeding £1 per day. Having no discretionary power, and the penalty being outside the jurisdiction of tho Board, I was called upon at a moment's notice to take a definite course, and adopted the' only one lett to me—namely, I demanded the maximum penalty, and referred the matter to the head office. The agents, iostead of approaching the department as applicants for favour, and rjquestrag that their negleot be condoned, simply stigmatised my action as absurd, and demanded that the penalty be reTJpmltted, without offering the least excuse for tho delay. Under the circumstances, the Head Oice instructed mo to insist upon payment,"