THE MACKENZIE RUNS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14360, 4 February 1911, Page 6

THE MACKENZIE RUNS.

LAND BOARD IN THE DARK. An Lutorcitiug diseusßiou took place at Thursday's meeting of the Canterbury Laud" Hoard, regarding souio of tlii! conditions on which tiio pastoral runs arc to be disputed ol tlus month. 'J'Uo conditions published i>o far, set out certain points relating to tuo contents of tUo leases, but say nothing as to governing conditions iu respect of the disposal of tlio runs. Tko Board proceeded to mako sonic rules themselves, but on ono obscure point decided to apply for advioo to head-quarters. It was decided that any applicant may apply for any number of runs; that transfers will not bo permitted within two years, unions some, extraordinary reason is shown; and that applicants must show that they possess in cash seven times the'amount of the annual rental of the run applied for. The last condition refers to the runs to be open to ballot, and not to those the leases of which are to be submitted to auction. The law embodies the principle of one man one run, so far as the former class of runs is concerned, hut not, it appears, in relation the latter class. In fact the Board at this silting decided to recommend that Mr Georgo Murray bo allowed to hold the two sub-divisions of Glentanner run. This, if allowed, does away with that subdivision. A discussion took place on tho question whether apnlicntions for tho runs to he balloted should be limited to landless people. And as tho Board could not make out what the Act nrovidos in this connection, it was decided to apply to the Minister for instructions. The members appeared to be quite prepared to imp'ise such a limitation, if it can be done. In the course of the discussion. Mr Gibson said that the men most likely to mako a success of tho runs were men who had worked on them—head shepherds—and if they allowed ;>eople who had land to apply, the chances of these who dia not possess any land were diminished. The Commissioner, Mr T. N. Brodrick, probably mado a good forecast of the result of tho disposal of the runs that are to bo submitted to auction when ho said: "There is a sort of feeling amongst runholders that will not allow them to compete against each other, and the runs will, in consequence, go to the original owners. :sed that the chances of getting the runs hack are reduced." The arrangement by which all runs with homesteads are to be disposed of by auction of course gives the present holders a great advantage. They may have to pay higher rents than the upset rents n>ed. hut they have not to ran the risk of being dispossessed by tho mere chanoe of tho ballot-box.