THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1914. CLASSIFYING GUM LANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15548, 4 March 1914, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1914. CLASSIFYING GUM LANDS.

The Dominion already owes much to the keen and practical interest taken in agriculture by its Prime Minister, Mr. W. F. Massey. Many short-sighted individuals, whose mental horizon is limited by city streets, are apparently unable to perceive that the prosperity of a produce-exporting country depends upon its agrarian policy and that in fostering its farming industries a statesman works for all his fellowcitizens. So widespread has been this misconception that the resumption of the portfolio of Lands by a Prime Minister was even regarded as a lowering of the prestige attaching to the leadership of the Cabinet. Mr. Massey has shown us, however, that a competent and devoted Minister for Lands can evolve order from disorder, progress from retrogression, only when his administrative energy is supported by recognised legislative authority. Nothing could be more complimentary to the work of the Minister than the indisputable fact that his exhaustive Land Acts were not only passed through Parliament with the enthusiastic support of every agricultural interest but have been found upon application to be unprecedentedly satisfactory and practicable. These reforms dealt with a notorious confusion of land tenures, simplified the intricate land system that resulted from a medley of disconnected enactments and restored to settlers the optional freehold of which they had been deprived by the Continuous Government. That the arduous labours thus entailed contributed largely to the recent physical collapse of our naturally robust Prime Minister has been sympathetically realised by the understanding public and his restoration to sound health is everywhere regarded' as an inestimable public gain. The Herald holds, as do so many New Zealanders, that the value of a minister is to be estimated not by his party affiliations, but by the good work he does for his country. Judged on that ground there has been no Minister for Lands to whom the country owes more than it does to Mr. Massey,

and it must not be forgotten that to the Reform Party he, in turn, owes the opportunity of ,which he has taken such creditable ' advantage.

■aany ministers would be content 1 to rest upon such laurels, but Mr. Massey is among the statesmen who refuse to rest while there is public work to be done. The Commission which has been appointed to classify the Northern gum lands is but the necessary prelude to another important action on the part of the Minister for Lands. The name of " Commission" "has been brought into a certain amount of discredit through this system of official investigation having been too often resorted to simply as a device for the shelving of public questions, but we need not fear that any such intention actuates the Government to-day. We have not yet reached the time when business methods prevail in all departments, and in every phase of national enterprise, but that Millennium will be arrived at all tho more speedily through the example set by capable ministers co-operating with the earnest and capable public servants to be found in every department. In this connection, it may be 1 inted out that high permanent officials opposed to reasonable changes and to all reforms are an almost insuperable obstacle to adequate and satisfactory reorganisation, as has been discovered over and over again by public-spirited ministers entrusted with important portfolios. The sterling character of Mr. Massey's Land Acts is evidence that more than formal assistance was given him by the Lands Department officials and justifies public confidence that he will have their very hearty support in the further task of opening to close settlement the huge areas of Northern " gum lands" which cannot now be classified as gum-carrying. This is a scheme of particular meaning in Auckland Province, but increased production in this province is as contributory to the - Consolidated Revenue as increased production elsewhere, although this political axiom is evidently not always grasped by our fellow-citizens in the South.

As the Herald has so often reiterated there is no part of the Dominion which promises to carry a closer agricultural population than the region tersely described as " the gum lands." Gumdigging has given profitable work to thousands' of men for many years and the export of gum has assisted greatly the trade and progress of Auckland City. It was long thought that these gum lands had little agricultural value, but it is now realised that with scientific cultivation, upon principles easily understood, they are exceptionally well suited for specialised forms of agricultural producion. The desirability of removing the embargo laid upon them, wherever the gum is exhausted and wherever gum is not likely to be found, is consequently recognised by both settlers and gumdiggers. The membership of the Commission is thoroughly representative of all the interests affected and its work may be expected to lead to such an acceptable classification as will enable the Government to throw open a very large area of land pre-emin-ently fitted for small holdings and close settlement. We venture to say that this action on fhe part of the Government is not intended to minimise the urgent need for improved settlement opportunity in Otago, in the King Country, on the East Coast or elsewhere. Wherever, there are unproductive lands, whether Crown or Native, settlement under fair conditions should be made possible. " Fair conditions" cover two essentials: such a tenure as ensures to the toiling settler that he is working for himself and his family and not for a landlord ; and i such transit facilities as enable him to send his produce to market by good roads and convenient railways. Thanks to Mr. Massey the Government is sound upon tenure and we hope that it will soon become as sound upon transit.