LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1361, 12 February 1912, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE LAW QUESTION. fMr,—The most important administrative appointment t.i be prc-.puilv made in the State Service of New Zealand i>- I hat of the I'lHler-Secrelnrvsliip of band- which becomes vacant at the end of tobruary through the retirement of the piv-ont holder of the position. It is to be Imped that before mu-Ii an aiipo'iitmeiu is made weigjitv consideration will be given to lauds matters, and the i|Uestion of whether it is advisable to make any such appointment at all deilt with. The lands of the Dominion being (he hirth-piace i>f_ our wealth the bauds'and Agriculture lie-' partuiciits stand therefore in prominent importance: The past hi.itory of the treatment of our lands teems vividly with all sorts of mistakes and lethargy of big dimension*, and one is quite justified in saying that had they been halt decently liealt with, our country would now be powerfully situated a-* regards population, wealth, and progressive activity. 'Taking observance of the awful treatment of the land during the past few years one can well exclaim "New Zoalaitdi in spite of all, vott still prosper." (with the aid, of course, of heavy borrowings). Meto nut intelligent treatment to the laud and New Zealand's day of borrowing would, with reasonable government in other respects, cease precipitately. Now, the Under-Secretarial direction of tho Land.s Department has been performed for very many years by men who received their training as stool-sitting, map-circumscribed draughtsmen. »e need not question their ability to far as their training would admit, but is it reasonable to expect that broad areas containing the natura) elements of wealth can receive from such the just estimate of their necessities? It is sublimely absurd. Why, one. has only to_attcncl any agricultural "and pastoral society's show and he could pick out several men much more adapted in every s?nse for such an important" position as that of, to a large extent, the .Ministerial advi.-er on questions appertaining to the land. The routine ofiicc work can well be carried out by a Chief Clerk. We know quite well that tho land-set-tling activity of some years ago has been followed by' an almost profound composure lasting for years. From, being the foremost land-settling State in Australasia wc have dropped back to the rear. Glorbus chances "of peopling the country heavily have been lost, and this should make 'it an absolute necessity of the time that consideration should Uo given to_ the tir.cs.iion of the best method of administering our lands. One way would be by the appointment of three commissioner!, each of whom would have a practical i.pov.ledge of hum, its value and. its economical Irea.t-ntiit am! suitability for this or that purple, ft is medievalism to exnret these qualifies from clerically trained persons. With such appointments there should not he much icar of the v.eolfh-creatiiig work oi such a Department being s;?pt over, (vwi althoKgli the Mivster for J.nm.s knew nothing iil.out lauds, like the present on;-; for the retorts of live co-niiiissioiiers would be perennially present;".! to larliament. . The ti'ne irnv also be opiwrtune for the amal'Minati.'n of the lauds. Agriculture, and >'e vk Departments. laud boards could then be transformed into Iji.'hl, .Agriculture, Slock, and land Im-,,rc,-„...10n; 8.-i-ds. Forming educational •,r;.-'oVi',i;T.rr!-,l bv IVse boards could iv i')n--,int«.'l to go ti;iv"-:'i the districts visiting the •infers :il v,\ M:o;;!yir i; ndv.M to those wl>.i should '' v a: ,! ,' 1 „";^.. n . 1 ,' , .:. vl ' : -' ri.oGi.j.s.s.