PURCHASING ESTATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 10

PURCHASING ESTATES.

A few days ago, when it was reported that the Government had purchased for subdivision an estate in Otago, dissatisfaction was expressed at the absence of information as to the price paid, as well as at the failure of the Government to make good its promises to promote settlement by other means. Particulars of the purchase are now made public—with the glaring exception of the purchase price. What was feared has come to pass. The country is taken into confidence on all points except the very vital one as to how much of its money has been spent. This practice of withholding essential information, to which the public is rightfully entitled, is vicious in the extreme. It is not at all consoling to be told what a fine property it is, and that its wool clip has had pride of place in the market for years and its cropping possibilities have been proved. These things rather tend to impress the doubtful wisdom of making such a purchase in preference to developing unsettled land. What has been done in this instance is to achieve a minimum of advantage in settlement at presumably a maximum outlay, whereas the settlement of waste lands involves a minimum of expenditure and promises a maximum of national advantage. Of course, if the Government has acquired in the Wilden Estate a remarkably fine bargain, this criticism loses a little of its sharpness of edge; but, as the Minister of Lands carefully refrains from mentioning the price, he cannot very well be surprised if tho paying public should suspect that ho has paid more than enough. That, however, is mere suspicion, and judgment may be deferred until the price becomes known. But there should be no room left for such suspicion, and as a matter of right there ought to be stated, without delay, what the estate has cost the country. It is disquieting enough to know that an estate very considerably improved has been bought for subdivision; it is wholly wrong that the public should not be told what has been paid for it.