LAND BOARDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3111, 29 October 1913, Page 11

LAND BOARDS.

APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS

PRINCIPLE OF NOMINATION

INSINUATION OF ANIMUS

(Fnou Our Own Correspondent.l WELLINGTON, October 16. The matter of filling a vacancy upon the Otago Land Baord caused by the expiry of the term of Mr J. A. Macpherson, caused some comment and discussion on party lines in the House to-day. The discussion arose over the following question asked by Mr G. Forbes: “Is the following paragraph from the Oamaru Mail a correct statement of the position in regard to the vacancy to be filed on the Otago Land Board? The Government is nominating Mr T. A. Munro, of Kurow, ■ to the Otago Land Board in place of Mr J. A. Macpherson. Mr Clark (of Chalmers electorate) strongly supported the retiring member, but Messrs Lee, Smith, and Scott insisted on the appointment of Mr Munro. If it is correct/ can the Prime Minister inform the House if the animus of Messrs Lee, Smith, and Scott to Mr Macpherson is on account of his being of a different political colour from themselves, and why Mr Clark’s recommendation was turned down?”

The reply made by the Prime Minister to this question was: “The paragraph referred to as appearing in the Oamaru Mail is not worthy of notice. The question of filling the vacancy on the Otago Land Board is at present under consideration.’’ A DEFINITE REPUDIATION. This afternoon Mr Lee referred to this question. It had been practically said that he had an animus against Mr Macpherson. He gave that an entire denial, and he would ask the hon. member who asked the question to get up and show to the House what animus he had against Mr Macpherson, or otherwise withdraw the statement in fairness to himself.

Mr Witty (explaining the absence of Mr Forbes): He is at sea now.

Mr Lee added that Mr Forbes knew the value of circulating misrepresentations, because -they got a start and could not be caught by the correction. He knew Mr Macpherson personally, and had every re spect for him, though he did not see eye-to-eye with him on matters political. He had no animus towards him, and in no way insisted upon the appointment of Mr Munro as stated by the Oamaru Mail. Plainly, the member for Hurunui had an abnormal capacity for wickedness and invention.

Mr R. M‘Galium spoke on party lines, and alleged that the appointment of a man to the Marlborough Land Board should not have been made by the Reform Government, because there wore reasons against it.

Mr Scott also gave the allegation about animus an absolute denial. He and Mr Macpherson were political opponents, but were still friends, and he had taken absolutely no steps in regard to the appointment. He joined with Mr Lee in thinking that the member for Hurunui should withdraw the statement.

Mr F. H. Smith said he had recommended that Mr Munro should be appointed to the Land Boai'd. His reason was that the interests of the pastoral tenants should receive consideration, and he hoped Mr Munro would be appointed. Unless the Government had sympathetic members on the Land Board itA policy might not receive proper, interpretation.

SPOILS TO THE VICTORS. Sir Joseph Ward, when closing a speech upon another question, said he ftlao desired to refer to this question. Hie did not know Mr Munro or anything about him, but ho would say that there was a strong feeling growing up in th« country that the policy of spoils to the victors was being introduced (loud Government laughter) into the question of appointments and removals of people from the,various public offices of the country. —(Laughter.) There were a great many in onr time, added Sir Joseph, who were oppoued to the Government who were never removed.

‘‘The honorable member’s time is up,” came from the Speaker, and cut short Sir Joseph’s words. Mr Nosworthy made spirited comment on the action of the Liberal Government in continually appointing leaseholdei-s to the land boards. If this Government liked to put members holding freehold views on why should they complain? Referring to the action of Mr Forbes in making the insinuation he did, Mr Nosworthy said he was not a political crawler, nor was he a shuffler. He was not always doing wffiat the member for Hurunui did—making insinuations and innuendoes from a mean paltry rag of a paper. ‘‘That is how I describe the paper,” declared Mr Nosworthy, “and it is known throughout He whole of the South Island. I am surprised that members from Canterbury should use such material as that.” PRINCIPLE OF NOMINATION.

The Prime Minister said that since he had come into office 18 vacancies in land boards had occurred. One was caused by death, and two were caused by the provisions of the Land Agents Bill of last year. This left 15 ordinary vacancies which he had had to fill. Out of these he re-appointed nine. Did that look like spoils to the victoi’s? Ho had followed the principle of appointing a good man when ho was in sympathy with his policy, but ho would state definitely that where a man was known to be in favour of the leasehold principle, and he had a chance to rc-appoint him ho would not do it, because ho would not be in sympathy with his policy of freehold development. They had not followed the principle of spoils to the victors, but had cut themselves adrift from it.