N.Z. ADMINISTRATION OF LANDS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 199, 9 August 1911, Page 5

N.Z. ADMINISTRATION OF LANDS.

A CRITICAL REVIEW. THE HON. MR. ANSTEY CONDEMNS THE SYSTEM. (By Telegraph.) (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Aug. 9. The Hon. Mr. Anstey, who is recognised in Parliament as one of the most practical members of the Legislative Council, delivered himself of a most critical review of the Government’s lands administration, in the Legislative Council yesterday. He applied himself almost entirely to the Mackenzie runs in Canterbury which it will be remembered were recently offered for selection. Of the 23 sections put on the market last year, Mr. Anstey showed that 14 were disposed of by ballot, and 14 at auction. Of the fourteen disposed of by ballot, five were secured by single girls, four by married wmmen. and five by men, and of the lot- only one could be described as a bona fide settler . Of the 14 disposed of by auction only three would be separately occupied, the others were aggregations pure and simple.

Mr. Anstey has been a settler in the Timaru district for years and he declared that he knew every one of the individuals of whom he was speaking. He also quoted the case of the Glentunnel run, which was acquired by a man who already owned a freehold. Permission was secured for him specially from the Minister to bid for two other runs at the sale to which he referred, and he got them. Another case was that of a man who resided on his run with his wife and his family. The run was put up for auction and the man whose lease had just run out should have got it for about £3OO per annum, instead he was run up tot £6OO and had to retire. A member: Who got the land ? Hon. Mr. Anstey: A man who owned two already, one in his own name and one in his wife’s name, the third (and the one in question) was put in the name of his son. a lad of 17 years of age attending the Waitaki Boys High School.

“Who is responsible for this.” demanded Hon. Geo. Jones as Mr. Anstey went on to multiply these ex t rao rd in ary instances. The Hon. Anstey: The gentleman we have not got—the Minister of Lands.” Mr. Anstey went on to say that there were five other runs to be disposed of in the same country and he wanted to warn the Government against repeating its mistakes. He also indicated that it was up to the Government to put forward a good sound progressive land policy.