THE AUCKLAND LAND BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12399, 12 October 1903, Page 4

THE AUCKLAND LAND BOARD.

The Auckland Land Board has never been popularly associated with the Lands Department as impeding the settlement of the province. Nor has it gone out of its way to prevent the freehold from being taken up, where the law allows, as some of our members of Parliament would wish it to. Of course, it sometimes makes mistakes, as all boards as all individuals must be expected to. But everybody knows that it will compare favourably with any other land board, so that the peculiar attack made upon it in the House cannot be taken seriously. This goes without saying, but while on the subject the advisability of giving Crown tenants a representative upon land boards is deserving of consideration. It is widely asked for throughout the

country, has the warm support of Mr. Massey, and may fairly claim the sympathy of the Premier. For while we do not think that Crown tenants should have any controlling influence on such bodies, it; may reasonably be urged that since their rights arid interests are greatly involved friction would be reduced and just grievances prevented if a representative, of Ibis increasing class was officially present at land board meetings. It is, at least,. a point likely to recur, and if the recent episode induces its consideration some little good may accrue from the attack made upon the Auckland Land Board.