AN ALLEGED INJUSTICE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14528, 20 May 1909, Page 5

AN ALLEGED INJUSTICE.

TO Till: K.MTOII. Siit,--La.st November a dredgemaster of one of the dredges working near Lowburn who resides in Cromwell, applied to the Land Hoard for lo acres of a tailing reserve on tlio eastern bank of the Cliitlm Kiver. opposite (he U.vburn. with (he i„. KMition of building a house and planting an orchard, so iliat l,e could be close lo the dredge. H e forwarded through an agent £5 deposit with his application.. By he byo tins money wa.s only returned lb ""ii ti few days ago. His application for jhe land ,v„ s refused by the board. Bu< la.-l llmrsday the same piece of land was granted to Mrs Logan, the present lessee of IWtlilmm Station, whose application was many months later than the dredgemaster's. It is to be hoped that a searching investigation by the Minister of Lands will be made inio this transaction by the Land Board. A general consensus of opinion exists in this district that vWth the exception of Mr Liviiigslone, who has consistently battled for ihe small settler the Otago Land Board has always supported the siiuaiier against the bona lide small settler, and acted in' direct opposition to the desire of the (.Imcrnmeiit for close settlement. The action of the board in grant ins Captain Dalwlv. ihe present lessee of Morven Hills Suit ion. 1000 acres of ihe litiest and most easily irn\r a i„d land in Ihe district, situated in Ihe l.iudis Valley, in exchange for 1100 acre* of poor land, thus presenting Captain Dalgnv with 500 arrrs more Ihaii he was omitled u\ in spite of meetings held bv residents of this district, who desired the 1600 acres to Ik- thrown open for close settlement, is siill fresh in our in-miories. and cmliims our belief ihat the Land Board (except Mr Livingstone) is a sianiich believer in the old adage. "To he ilist hath much, much shall be given.'' From inv knowledge of cur worthy mem. ber. Hi- Win. Krase.r, 1 am certain ilia!, when lie uetr: ihe fuels of thes" tv.-o sros pieces of favouritism he will sift tlio matter to the bottom, and in the ease of the drodgeuiaster have justice done him,—l am, ck., C'EOMirju,,, ■