The Timaru Herald SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1905. SEEKING AFTER THE TRUTH.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12637, 25 March 1905, Page 2

The Timaru Herald SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1905. SEEKING AFTER THE TRUTH.

In our columns this morning, the secretary of the Land Commission publishes dor gene : ral information the objects of the Commission and its itinerary in South Canterbury. This little army, which is seeking after the -truth in regard to land legislation, will invade South Canterbury on Monday week, and "will remain in the district until the following Monday, " to hear all persons desirous of giving evidence.. on matters within the terms of ihe Commission." There is a queer ■co , "rr J snn of svb'jcts, ranging from the constitution of laid Boards to the effect of the climate on tenures, upon which the members of the Commission are willing to receive the views , of anybody who may care to present himself before them, and we must confess that we do not envy the Commissioners the; task of evolving some sort of ordered report out of the conflicting opinions embodied'in the eyid-. ence • with which they will have to deal ' when they have finished their perambulations through the colony. Already they have accumulated a bulky, volume of testimony, despite the fact that they have not been taken quite ■ seriously by the people among whom they, have been pursuing their researches. Yesterday a Press Association message informed; us that when the Commission called in at Clinton, nobody had time to waste on giving evidence before them, because a much more important event—a sheep sale to wit—was engaging the attention of the local population.- In the light of this statement, oiie must regard the Commission's visit to 'South Canterbury as . rather unfortunately timed, for j sales will be coming thick and fast for the nest fortnight. In spite of this, however, it is possible that Mr Anstey and his fellow seekers after truth will not .be allowed to go empty away from this part of the colony. In fact- we are rather looking forward to the interesting diversity of opinions that- may be expected to ;find- expression at Waikakahi for instance, where Mr Corrigan may be relied upon to make a forcible exposition of the case for the freehold, and the hardships of isolated settlers in regard to educational facilities, while his local opponent in deibate, whose name has escaped us, will no doubt renew his vindication of the eternal lease. So the Commission will be further enlightened by evidence tendered in accordance with the ancient aphorism "many- men, many minds." Tie result, as Mr Anstey told our representative last Saturday when he returned to Timaru for a, brief respite from the bewildering conflict of views to which he had been listening, is problematical aa far as any benefit to the colony is, concerned. It is quite true; as he pointed :ouf, that the members of the Commission are being educated, though" we had imagined that they were appointed because of some extraordinary, capacity for dealing with a" subject which had baffled Parliament, and which had apparently been too much even for the collective wisdom of the colony's Land Boards. The taxpayer will have a stiff bill to foot'for this education of ithe Commissioners,: and it is therefore to be • hoped that residents - of South Canterbury will do what they can,provided no sales decree otherwise, to make that education as complete., as possible. It will at least be something to iave en-1

forged the understanding of about'a dozen very estimable gentlemen, though we should prefer, even after' the Commission has gone through South Canterbury, to take the opinion of Mr Humphries or Mr Pringle on any of the matters enumerated in this morning's advertisement, rather than the conclusions which the Commission may draw as the result of their jaunt through the district and their interviews with any stray witnesses who may turn up before them. i