THE GRAZING RUNS EPISODE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 425, 6 February 1909, Page 4

THE GRAZING RUNS EPISODE.

y,Our : .readers are, probably;, familiar by, i now .with the facts-of. the extra-! i , .ordinary faction : of; the Government: re- '■: spßoting ? certairi^grazing^leases; > ;-in: the ; '. Gisborne district,; "They;have probably; ' not heard-the sequel of the' long" campaign' . • of protest: by Me. G. J. Black against the ] ' deoisiori.of Mb. ; M'Nab to.resume'his run. 'i to.;grant;:a;reriewallof:the lease of '.a, -; 1 similar; fun^.held on similar: conditions,' i ; to<a.-Mit.;~HALi,,/who happens'-to'be --a : '' . prominent ;supporter.of .the'Coyernmeri't. ' . -We/Jgive in' another column 1 a'< summary ■ , of/theifacts/relatmg.to.thecasej-'and' we •' that public -will- cp'nsi'der ihat < : :the/.aciiipn ; of; Me, : M^NAB;and;"bf .''-MR. 1i pAEEOLL-.in conne'ctioni with the affair, ia ' ■ sufficiently v^far}:;from ; clear- ito'.'ckll' ■] for. .the, ; appointment •; of the': Com- ' mission ..''of'-; Inquiry ..which, was ad- '..' ■ yocated.,;Some;. time ago ■by' the" Mih- '■ .isterial.ist: journal 'in ChristchuVch. The, '> matter has'been discussed-very, fully and' ,] in. plain;language many times, in our col- ,( « mn ß. and it.isV'very. significant that ;tho ' Government has never attempted a reply,' ' . if'we except the "explanation"-■'by- Mr. ' M'NABihat was so unsatisfactory, as.to [ convert the Lyttelton Times -into an advo- ) . cate oi inquiry.' On. Monday last 4 Prees. ' Association- message .from; Gisborne .re- ! ported that a deputation, ha'd; waited on 1 : Sie;_Joseph-Ward with' respect, to; the I grazing runs.. .-Siii. Joseph- talted.in 'a ' . lofty'; strain'ofthq Contempt 'that he' 'felt ' for. thpse-who imputed iinprop'rietyi'to \ . the. Government in its > dealings with these e • I'^vr-ThoVmessage: did noV report the i.very.;, important iact. ■ that •■ Stit Joseph . ' ... informed.ihe/.deputation that;Me. \ Black wbulthobtaini a ronewal- of 'his i lease. Mr. Black is to be congratulated \ . uppn.tho successful issue of his agitation, t but the matter ;oanhot be' permitted: tp stoD there.; • y.be, Guborno Times L in com- J ]

menting upon the Prime Minister'? . : re-'-markablo announcement, says that "the! Government has taken the most effective method of stopping further • inquiries into a particularly unsavoury matter." No'doubt thie is the-object.of..the Gov-. ornment: it will not be doubted that'its tardy concession to Mb.. Buck proceeds, from the Government's alarm: at' the . refusal of this, strange case-to disappear from the columns of the press. But wider 'interests' than those of .Mr. Black, are involved, and tho-anxiety of'.the Government, to bury, the matter is only another strong reason why ..the whole transaction should be : made the ■■'subject'of inquiry.//-: