VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 438, 8 April 1890, Page 2

VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS.

The village settlements up North seem to be in a bad way. The Auckland Star writes of them in this lamenting strain :— “Trouble is, we understand, likely to ensue with the village settlers. Many of them are behind with their rent, and they have received a demand for rent and in. terest to be paid by the jrst inst., but a large number of them are unable to comply with this order. The people have to live out of what gum they can get, and it is as much as they can do to keep themselves in food. The circular makes a threat of forfeiture, and considering how hard the men have worked to improve their holdings, the threat is a cruel one, as in some cases the land is very poor, and unfit for men to get a living from for the next seven years. Probably the best thing to do would be for the Crown to forego their rent if the interest were paid, and let the men have their holdings as Crown tenants, subject to certain conditions, in perpetuity. The main thing is to keep on the land those who are honestly striving to remain there. The Government must, of course, take steps to prevent abuses, but we feel sure that they will be consulting the public interest and public opinion in dealing with these settlers in a generous spirit.”