THE MINISTER OF LANDS AT PALMERSTON.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5157, 2 June 1891, Page 3

THE MINISTER OF LANDS AT PALMERSTON.

REPLY TO MR SPENOB. (Bx Telbobaph.) PALMERSTON, June 1. A moeting convened by the Hon. J. MoKenzie m order that he might reply to certain accusations made against his administration by Mr Spence, ex-Commissioner of Crown Lands at Invercargill, woa held m the Town Hall, Palmereton, this evening and was largely attendod. Tbe Minister for Lands said that the Ministers had during the four monthß they had been iv office roduced tho publio expenditure by betwoen £50,000 and £60,000. They had m each instance acted m concert, and would ba prepared to anawor Parliament to confirm what they had dono io this direction, and if they wero defeated the electors would have a voice m tho mattor before it waa finoily settled. The policy of tho Government was "no borrowing," to live within their means, aud to rely on their own resources. They believed that if suoh a policy wero carried out for a few years they would havo such confidence restored as would bring about progress and prosperity throughout New Zealand. Ministers had determined to reduce the postage throughout the colony, to make an honest endeavour to reform tbe Legislative Council by limiting tbe timo m which members could rotain their Beats, nnd to amend the electoral laws by properly purging the rolls, Measures dealing with labour and capital would also be introduced, but they would not be of a revolutionary oliaracter,nor would they contain any fireworks. ThoßO measures while preserving the rights of labour would give fairplay to capital. A Land Biil would be introduced, one provision of which would put a stop to dummyism by making any breaches or evasions of it a misdemeanour puniahable by imprisonment only. Ho next defended Mr Ritohie's appointment aa chief of tbe Stock Department, saying that no moro puro and boneat appointment had over beon mado to tbe Civil Service of the colony Mr Spence's oharges wore then answered at longth. The Minister said that repealed complaints wero made concerning that gentleman's administration of the Lands Depart ment m Southland, After a personal inquiry as to the way m whioh the foreat reserves wero being dealt with ho bad m the interests of the colony, and ob an act of kindness to Mr Spenco himßolf, ordered hia romoval from a place whoro he had boon ao many years to Westland at tho samo salary aa ho had boon drawing. Mr Spence preferred to retire from tho servico, and asked £1180 retiring allowance, claiming not only payment for the time he waa m the General Government but m the Provincial Government also, aa well aa six months' leavo of absence on full pay. Tho Cabinet, howovor, only agrood to grant him £540, whioh was far moro than ho waa logally entitled to, so that Mr Sponce spoke as a disappointed man. As to Mr Mussen's transference to Canterbury, he was 60 years of ago, and therefore too old to combine the duties of Orown lands officor and special ranger for the Southland forests. Mr Duncan Campboll, who had been appointod to tho dual poat, had previously ocoupied tho position of ranger there, but had beon dismissed by tho lute Government for doing his duty too faithfully. It had boen oharged against him (tho Minister) by Mr Spence that he had transferred Mr Mueson to Canterbury m ordor to mako a billot for Mr Campboll ; but to disprove that he need only mention that at the very time the appointment was mado tho rangerahip m Canterbury was vacant. Ho also denied that ho bad loft, tho Land Officu at Invercargill with an inadequate staff and gave figures m aupport of thia assertion. In conolusion tbo Minister askod tho meoting to decide between himaolf and his accuser. (Loud applause.) Mr Marcbtt movod ond it was oarried new con '.' That this meoting has every confidence m the Hon. J. MoKonzie, Minister of Lands, as onr ropreßontative, and m tho Government of whioh ho is a mombor, and that tho actions of tho proaont Government eince thoy came into oflico aro fully approved of by tho Waitaki constituency, and merit the confidonoo of tbe country at largo.