THE GRAZING RUNS EPISODE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 456, 15 March 1909, Page 4

THE GRAZING RUNS EPISODE.

A telegram from Napier reports the final act, so far as Mr. G. J. Black is concerned, of the remarkable history of his grazing lease. But in ending Mr. Black's undeserved troubles, tho formal resolution in which tho Hawke's Bay Land Board has granted a renewal of tho lease concerning which so much has been heard simply completes tho case against tho Government in connection with the affair. Wo printed a history of the case on February G last, but we may recall hero its main features. It will bo remembered that Mn. Black, indignant at the favour shown to a Mn. Hall in connection with a similar grazing run lease, protested against the resumption of his land, and made out so good a'case that tho Land Board decided to rescind its decision refusing him a renewal. Tho Commissioner and tho Under-Secretary for Lands supported the Board's rescission of its resolution, but Mr. M'Nab, as Minister for Lands, displayed an extraordinary obstinacy, and refused to grant Mr. Black the relief recommended, even though he had some time previously informed Mr. Black that he would act on the Land Board's recommendation. Mr. Black then carricd his case before tho public, with the result that tho matter received a good deal of attention in The Dominion and other newspapers. The Government had no explanation or defence to offer after tho weakness of Mr. M'Nad's statement to a Dunedin newspaper had been so completely exposed that even the Lyltellon Times, which had been assailing Mr. Black, asked for a full inquiry. Somo> time ago, however, the Prime Minister visited Napier, and he there stated that the Government had after all dccided to grant Mr. Black a renewal of his lease. The news has now arrived that tho Land Board has granted the renewal "in view of the opinion expressed" by Sir Joseph Ward. We do not hesitate to say that tho Government has been guilty of serious impropriety in connection with the affair. If there were any good reason for Mr. M'Nab's firm refusal to sanction the renewal of the lease recommended by the Land Board and the Undcr-Secrctary, that reason must still exist. In the circumstanfces, the Prime Minister must not blamo the public if it is driven to the conclusion that his surrender proceeds from his anxiety to have the matter forgotten. 1 So far as Mr. Black is concerned the trouble is ended—we congratulate him on tho successful issue of*his agitation—but the public still has some interest in the matter. Quite apart from the fact that the Government has 'stultified itself in its anxiety to get rid of a case which, if fully investigated, would reflect great discredit on the Ministry, there remains the unpleasant fact that the Land Boards can bo influenced by a Minister so as to silit a political end that he may have in view. The Napier Board first decided, quite legally, to resume the disputed run; later,' it very properly rescinded its resolution to that effcct; later still, under instructions from Mr. M'Nab, it reaffirmed its first resolution; and, finally, under Sir Joseph Ward's instructions, it again undid its original decision. The whole question is certain to receive attention during the coming session of Parliament, but in the meantime the public will do well to keep in mind the remarkable testimony of the case to the part which political influence plays in tho administration of the Lands Department.