LANDS DEPARTMENT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18347, 2 April 1925, Page 8

LANDS DEPARTMENT.

MINISTER'S HIGH TRIBUTE,

(special to "the pbess.")

GISBORNE, April 1

During the coarse of his reply to the soldier settlers 011 the Glcncoe settlement, the Minister of Lands (tbe Hon. A D. McLeod) made interesting reference to the working of the complicated Lands Department, and at tiie same time paid high tribute to the work of his officials. In the course of his remarks, Mr McLeod said that lie fiad gone into harness as Minister of Lands, expecting to be able to find many flaws in the administrative side of the Department-, hut l>e was very satisfied with the system under his control. It was, of course, capable of improvement. The members of the Land Boai-d received very little for the services they rendered,'and he thought that they shonljl be paid more than they were at present. He had found that prior to the revaluation being carried out, there was a feeling of great depression among the soldiers, and many of them, thinking their position hopeless, did not pnt tlioir best work into their places. He was not blaming them for that: there was 110 doubt that their position was to a certain extent the result of circumstances. The result of this feeling was that when the revaluations were actually made, the soldiers were unable to meet their rente. He had explained to his Commissioners that for a year at lenst they would have to expect some difficulty* and that every consideration was to be given the settlers. The treatment extended would have to be the result of previous experience gained through the slump rears. It was impossible to postpone rents indefinitely, and it would be necessary for the Land Boards to harden up gradually. The soldier settlers, after all. were only like other men, and would hare to pay their way.