GOVERNMENT LAND RENTS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2382, 24 December 1908, Page 2

GOVERNMENT LAND RENTS

REBATE FOR PROMPT PAYMENT

[Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, Dec. 22. Ihe question of rebates for the prompt payment of rents came beforo tlie Wellington Land -Board ye&terday. The Commissioner, Mr J. McKenzie, explained that the .practice in this district had been somewhat diffei’ent to that followed in the two districts of which he had formerly charge, Taranaki and Auckland. In those provinces 10 per cent, rebates had been (allowed on all rents if paid within a month from the due date. In the Wellington province he had found the allowance m regard to land for settlement land only 5 per cent. He had been moved in the matter some months lago, but before coming to any decision he had gone round the district and met the settlers. .He had come to the conclusion that whilst the settlers he had visited were doing exceptionally well, and they themselves admitted that even the allowance they were receiving was reasonable, still as all other land districts in the Dominion were enjoying the full benefit of the 10 per cent, rebate, he saw no reason why the settlers in this district should be treated differently. This was a matter that .did not come before the Board, the Land Act specially providing that the Commissioner, together with the receiver of land revenue, were the solo persons who had to decide the question. The

receiver, Mr 'Waite, concurred in -file Commissioner’s view, with tho result that the 10 per cent, rebate would now be allowed on all holdings that were entitled to it for prompt, payment. This would be applicable to rents due at tlie end of the present month, and the Commissioner had no doubt it would be an acceptable Oliristmas-box to the. settlers.

The practice in the Hawke’s Bay land district has for several years been to grant tlie full rebate of ten per cent. _