DEPUTUTATION TO THE PREMIER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2561, 15 April 1903, Page 13

DEPUTUTATION TO THE PREMIER.

OTAGO SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

Messrs D. Barron (chairman) and C. Macandrew (secretary), representing the Otago School . Ccimmissioners, on the 7th inst. waited upon the Righ. Hon. the Premier to make an explanation with regard to complaints that were made by deputations in the south to the effect that under the School Commissioners' administration there was no money forthcoming for roads, and that the commissioners were leasing a block of 3000 acres.

Mr Macandrew said that they wished to explain that they were not offering a block of 3000 acres. It was cut up into 13 different leases iv the Waikaia district, ranging from 10 to 520 acres. They had been advertised for a month to be sold on the 16th of this month. Two commissioners and himself went to Waikaia last year in connection with this matter, and after inspecting the land they held a meeting with tae leading people there, and told them what they proposed to do, and they expressed themselves as being thoroughly satisfied. It was never intended to offer them in large areas, but they told the peoplo there that they had no machinery to prevent one man taking the lot if he chose to bid high enough. Still, at the same time, the commissioners said they would "clo their best t} let the people- have them separately.

The Premier said that although tho comiKiFsioners had cut the land up into 13 sections, any person who went high enough in his bid could get the 3000 acres. The Government said that it should step in and insist that the sections should be put up under such conditions that one person ccmld not get^ the lot. There was no use of the Government, in accordance with the wishes of Parliament, going in for close settlement whilst land in the same district was being let in large areas. It was altogether against its policy, and Parliament had safeguarded it by passing an act. The Government must not run any risk of a man going in for one of these areas of 1000 acres or two of 500 acres whilst people were clamouring for land of small areas in the same district. Why could the commissioners not put in a condition that no person would be allowed to take more than one of the sections?

Mr Macandrew: We would be only too glad to do so if wo had the necessary machinery empowering us to do it. The Premier : We will do it for you. We will take the responsibility of that. Mr Macandrew: The commissioners will be only too pleased to carry out the views of the Government.

The Premier read the opinion of the Law Officers on the question, and said that according to the Solicitor-general the Minister of Lands ought to be a consenting party in the leasing, etc., of any land. Tho question now was, What was. the best way out of the difficulty,? It would be for the commissioners to advertise conditions, and say that no one person would be allowed to have more than one of the sections. Mr Macandrew saiel the conditions had not been before the public at. all yet. If tliey found from their solicitors thatHt could be done by the insertion of a clause in the conditions, would the -Government give its consent to the sale?

The Premier replied that he was sure the Government would not offer the slightest objection. Mr Alacandrew said that the question Oi thirds had been brought up by the deputations in tho couth. It was a grievance, but the commissioners had no machinery to deal with H. . The Premier said that it would be in the interests of the tenants if they were brought under the act. They would get the thirds, and if the roads were made better, and the position of the settlers improved, the eonv missioners would have more contented tenants. ' Mr Macandre-w said the commissioners had 800 tenants, and out of the total he knew if only 10 or a dozen who were dissatisfied. He noticed ,hat some among the deputation the other day were not tenants at all. The Premier: At anyrate, they spoke for the rest. The deputation then retired.