Evening post. SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1891. THE MINISTER OF LANDS.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 103, 2 May 1891, Page 2

Evening post. SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1891. THE MINISTER OF LANDS.

« The Hon. Minister of Lands has gone off to Auokland to "personally investigate" a case of dummy ism. We venture to think the Hon. tho Minister of Lands would be much better engaged in his office attending to his legitimate work. Ho is no more likely to shine as a personal investigator than as a satirical letter writer, an example of official courtesy in ihis manner of dealing with hia subordinates, a prudent, impartial administrator, or a just distributor of patronage. The Hon. John M'Kbnzib appears to be ono of those men who, whon dressed in brief authority, immediately take to playing pranks. He has suddenly grown much too big for his boots, and if his colleagues do not take care he will involve them in tho destruction ho is courting for himself. No Ministry will be strong enough to oarry him and his vagaries. The letter sent by his direction to the Wellington Land Board the other day was decidedly impropor in tone aod matter for any Minister to address to a public body. Its insinuations wore entirely unwarranted by facts, and itß sarcasm as clumsy as it was uncalled for. The manner in which he effected the recent disorganisation of tho Lands Department, under a pretence of reorganisation, was discourteous, and unjust in its treatment of officers of high standing, long service, and admitted ability. His dealings with the Small Farm Associations, by refusing them rights whioh the law contemplatCß their possessing, wrs injudicious in the extreme, his conduct in summarily suspoudirg Ranger M'Kat for several months, refusing to give any_ grounds for such suspension, and then reinstating him without enquiry, was arbitrary and capricious, but ho has capped everything by his revolutionary changes in the Stook Department^ which have had tho effect of exposing tho colony to a danger which may involve immense national loss, and wido spread individual ruin. In connootion with the prinoipal change in this department there is a rumour of most pronounced and barefaced nepotism. We are not prepared to say whether it can be sustained or not, but certainly it will require to bo strictly investigated. For their own Bakes his colleagues should ascertain all tha facts in connection with Mr. Kitch.e's appointment as Chief Inspector of Stook, and if ho wa3 appointed solely on the ground of his expert qualifications and without consideration of any personal influenoo3, then tho rumours referred to should receive a direct contradiction. Apart, however, from any personal question as connected with Mr. M'Kenzie, the appointment is ono which, wo think, deserves, and ia receiving throughout the colony, the strongest condemnation. Mr. Kitchie was, we believe, a manager of a small station or property in or near tho distriot Mr. M'Kknzie represents. He lived in a rabbitinfested locality, and succeeded iv waging successful war against bunny. This is the ground generally alleged for his selection a3 Chief of the Stock Department. If it is the only or main qualification he possesses, then iiis not sufficient to legally justify hip appointment to the Chief Inspectorship of Stock, whioh is a Civil Service appointment. The Civil Service Reform Act pormits the appointment of outsiders who are "skilled in the management of live stock;" but rabbits jeannot, under any ciroumst&ucei, be brought within the definition of "live stook." They are legally ferm natures, | and if Mr. Ritchie cannot olaim to be an expert ia regard to sheep and cattle, then his appointment oannot be ustified by law. In .tho enumeration of live

stock under tho management and control cf the Inppector, sheep hold the first place. The Department is mainly supported by the sheop owners assessment, and tho main duties imposed by law ou the Stock Inspectors relate to sheep, and aro devised with special reforence to the protection of the flocks of the co'ony from contagious or infectious dheaaen, and especially scab. No ono knows this better tban the present Colonial Secretary who, souio years ago, administered tho btock Department very ably, and took most decisive and successful efforts towards stamping that fell ecourge ont of existence in Aew Zealand. Now, what are Mr. Ritchie's qualifications in regard to the prevention or suppression of disease in cheep r If his experience his been confined to the Waikouaiti distriot it ia impossible he can know anything praotically about scab, for that district has been clean for many years. Wo regard a knowledge of this disease, the ability to detect its first higns, and acquaintance with the mear.s of protection and cure, to be the first necessary qualification of an Inspector of Stock We are not in a position to assert that Mr. Ritchie is not thue qualified, but no proof or assurance on the sut>J2ct htis yet been afforded to the public, and we know that a most uneasy leeling pervades the publio mind, especially amongst; all interesied in cheep. It is truo the colony i 8 at the present time " clean " in regard to Bcab, but there is no seourity as to how long this happy state of things will continue. Any extensive outbreak ot the disease now on any largo scale would bo a national misfortune of the greatest magnitude, for our flocks are the ataplo of tbe largest oxporc and most valuable trade I^ew Zealand haa. might appoar any day, and it would bo a terrible thing if the Stock Department proved unequal to coping with it Babbits are, no doubt, bad enough, although in (tome districts, wo believe, land owners have managed to make them pay better than sheep, but any iojury rabbits now do is nothing to what scab, if it ag^in got a hold, would do. Tho Minister of Lands, thero! ore, is pursuing a most dungerous policy when he ia nob only drivimf out of the service monfoliy capable of dealing with the rubbit pest, but a!ao experts iv sheop aud then-diseases, especially scab, and replacing them by others whope chief, if not only, qualification ia eucoussfnl dealing with rabbits. Several ofthe late changes point in this direction, and it is high lime Mr. Jl'Kunzie was pulled up in tho fatuous course ho ia apparently proceeding on. The safety of tho flocks of the colony demand thi->. and thoso Hooks represent a veiy large proportion of ths national wealth. The injuntico done to many good and well-qualified officers ia a minor cundideration, but still not ono unworthy oi account. 'iVo regret to havo to write in terms of such unequivocal condemnation of Mr. M'KsNZiK'a policy and administration sinoa ho attained office. We had hoped bettor things from him, knowing 1 him to be an earnest Liberal anil waruny interested ia tha work oi bona fide land aettloment, but his elevation to political power has apparently hud a somewhat upsetting effect on him, and he haß piven rein to a naturally hasty, ovorboariug tompor, in a manner oulculated to cauao his fiicnds regret, and to seriously ondanger tho political existence of tho Ministry of which it was hoped ho would prove one of tho most useful members.