MORE JOBBERY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9834, 17 September 1897, Page 4

MORE JOBBERY.

In 1896 the Parliament passed an Act called the Government Valuation of Land Act, 1896. It provided that the colony should b9 divided into special districts. There were to be a ValuerGeneral and District Valuers and other officers. The Commissioner of Taxes is the Valuer-General, and there are head Valuers for Auckland, Wellington, Otago, and Southland. All those who have got these superior positions are of the " right colour."' One had helped Mr. Gaosian in one election, another wa3 Mr T. Kennedy Macoonald, who is a sort of Ministerial jackal, a third was. tin uciive Commifcteeman of the Hon. John M'Kenzie, aud the fourth was a bosom friend of Mr. Waud. Four Ministers got their four men. 'Then there are Subdistrict Valuers and other Valuers too numerous to mention. One of Mr. Graham's Chairmen of Committees goi the Nelson valuation. A Mr. Chesney of Hokitika has been made a District valuer for Hokitika at, we understand, £300 or £400 per year. What particular fitness an ex-stprekeeper has for valuing land we do not know. In the list, however, of the valuers we notice ex-drapers, &c. In fact, being unemployed seems to be a recommendation for the appointment of valuer. Mr. George, who was the Ministerial candidate for the Wakatipu at the last election, has been appointed district valuer for Wakatipu at £300 a year. This is as good a position as a member at £240 and perqiiisites. We believe the work will be new to him, but he was a defeated candidate of the right colour, and all the defeated candidates of the right colour could not be put in the Legislative Council. Three found their way there after the election, and we suppose many were promised the seclusion of the Upper Chamber, but the Premier was obdurate.

Wede3ire, however, to point out what all these appointments mean. Wβ suppose neither in Hokifcika nor Wakatipu will the total amount of Land Tax collected pay the salary of the District Valuer. There are other attendant expenses, and these will not bo defrayed. We suppose the County Valuer in Wakatipu or in Westland would have been glad to value for £50 or £100 the whole county with its included boroughs. But then that would have been an economical arrangement, and how were the friends of the Ministry to be rewarded if no offices were found for them ?

It looks, however, as if no new function can be created for the Government without giving a fresh chance of corruption. Who would have thought that the valuation of land would be looked upon as a means of rewarding people of the " right colour " ? Yet so it is, and money is wasted, so that the servile followers of the Ministry may be rewarded. We suppose that not till the people are roused by the additional burdens that must be cast upon them will it be possible to put a stop to the jobbery that is daily taking place. This Valuation of Land Act has been jobbed in many of its appointments, and we know only a few of the jobs perpetrated. If the full list of valuers came before us we feel assured that dozens of valuers have been appointed who have no special knowledge of land values, but who are willing supporters of Seddonism.