MEETINGS OF LAND BOARDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14447, 13 February 1909, Page 12

MEETINGS OF LAND BOARDS.

Mr Hugh Mitchell, provincial secretary of the Farmers' Union, has received the following reply to the union's request that the Land Board meetings should be held fortnightly instead of monthly as at present:— "Ro fortnightly meetings of tho Land Board.—l have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of tho 26th ult., urging that meetings of tho Otago Laud Board bo held fortnightly instead of monthly as at present. In reply, I have to inform you that the matter was given very earnest consideration by my late colleague, tho Hon. Robert M'Nab, whose decision was that as the practice wa6 universal throughout New Zealand to hold monthly meetings, and as the business transacted in districts such as Auckland, Canterbury, Nelson, etc., was quite as large as that transacted in the Otago district, and as the commissioners in those districts informed the Minister in reply to his inquiry that they were quite satisfied that monthly meetings were quite sufficient for the carrying out of the business of the department, and, moreover, if the business bofore the Land Board cannot be finished in one day the board has power to adjourn to a second clay, he made up hie mind that there was no valid reason for a. departure in tho Otago Land District from the universal system pursued throughout tho Dominion. The Commissioners of Crown Lands themselves point out that in dealing with various matters to be brought before the Land Board, and consideration of which is adjourned from time to time for further information and reports, it is much more convenient, both for the Land Board and the department, to hold meetings monthly, as it gives the Land Boards time to obtain rangers' reports, etc., which in many cases cannot be furnished within three weeks or a month. Your suggestion, therefore, that the meetings of the Otago Land Board be held fortnightly cannot be given effect to.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, "J. (i. Waiid, Minister of Lands."