The Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1804. COMPLAINTS OF MASTERTON SPECIAL SETTLEES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12120, 8 December 1894, Page 2

The Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1804. COMPLAINTS OF MASTERTON SPECIAL SETTLEES.

Mi; A. W. Hocu, fie member for Mastertou, has undertaken to champion the cause of the Special Settlement Association in that electorate against the Lands Department. It is hard upon Mr Hogg, who is a | thick-and-thin supporter of the Go- \ verument, that in order to keep ou the right side with his constituents he should be forced to fall foul of a Minister and his department. It must be said, however, that he manages the awkward business very cleverly. Addressing a recent meetiug of members of the Associaiion, he urged that a vigourous appeal be made to the Minister of Lands. "He believed no blame could be attached to the Minister, ■who would, he felt sure, be only too pleased to sec the settlements a success, and to place the working men comfortably on the land." But in the very same speecli Mr Hogg said that he and another gentleman had interviewed tho Minister about the affairs of the Association, but tho interview was not a very satisfactory one. It was then agreed that there should be a re-valuation, but he (Mr Hogg) had not received any notice of such re-valuatiou. He further said that he had written to the Minister with reference io the grievances of the settlers, but he had received no reply. Mr Hogg's assurance that the Hon. Mr McFvenzie would be only too glad to see the special settlements a success hardly .agrees with his further testimony that he (Mr Hogg) could get no satisfaction from him iv a personal interview, and that when ho wrote to him detailing the grievances oC the settlers ho got no reply. If the Minister can afford to treat such a strong Liberal and Ministerial champion as Mr Hogg with .so much neglect or contempt, it is ([ititc uu-

derstandable how very little consideration might bo expected by interviewers or correspondents who arc not of the right colour For the benefit, of the Masterton Association Mr Hogg lias drawn up a lnemorirl, setting out their grievances at length, which memorial lias been adopted, and ordered io be printed and circulated. Tho document is rather lengthy, but we give it in Full, as it covets the whole case of the aggrieved special scttleis. It is addressed to the Minister of Lands, and it reads as follows : —

"The undersigned members of the Maßlorton Reform Special Settlement Associatioi desiro tn oil! your attention to tho circulars which they havo received within tho la6t few diys, from tho Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Wollington district ' Oce of these li9a -o 1—" Not : c 3of Payment," Btates that the half-yearly payments duo on the sections on Ist July, 18M. The amounts, which vary from, £8 to J615, are summarily demanded, and it is intimated that if the amounts arp not paid within twenty-one days from the isnn of tho notices, that the Boctions fite liable to forfeiture. It is further notified that the first year's improvements must be c fleeted by Ist Jan,, 1895 ; that the rangers will be asked to report as to tho fi^filment of the conditions ; and that failure will imply liability to forfeiture.

"Your petitioners desi c to submitThat when this land was applied for and the block granted tothe Association, itwas explicitly understood that iio demand for rent oould be made for two years after the completion of the survi y , and that any acoiued nmt for that pencd would be added to the capital value. It was sleo arranged that 5s par acre should ba added for roading with the understanding that the block would ba opened up,accßss b3ing given to all the sections, and that the holders of sections should hive a preferential claim to employment on the roads, Up to the present time no money has been voted for voading this block ; no steps have bten taken to give proper ac3e?s to it or open it up ; no work has been given to the members of the Association on roads or tracks with in the block although severpl applications have been made; and beyond the survey of the toctions and the representation of the roads on the lithographed plans nothing whatever has been done to enable the members of the Association to carry on the conditions of seetltment.

"Your petitioners respectfully submit that if the o' ject i 3 to render tne AeßOoiationafailuie. the prooasa now adopted of inviting the members to surrender, mating Budden demands for considerable sum 3of money, and holding cut threats of forfeiture, is admirably adapted to secure that l-nd.

"They point out that in the present instance, itmsmmh as notice of the completion of survey was only given about the end of 1893, even if tin Conimissione' is right, the rental could only commence from the Ist Jamnry, 1891, nnd two halfyearly instalments cannot therefo c have been due, as the circular states, on the Ist July hsfc. " They also submit that, as no leasoi have yet been issued, and as the Land Act (section 141) provides that improvements shall bo computed from the date of the lease, the notincation with regard to rent, and certainly with regard to improvements, is in error. They have no hesitation in contending further that the demand to promptly pay interest on the construction of roads that are only on paper j to remit rentals before they are due, contrary to tho original conditions of settlements, aud before (hi sectione are accessible, j and the further reminder about improvements which, without incurring almost ni'nous expense, cannot be carried out until roads are made, is most unreasonable, bJßidea being contrary to the conditions on which the land was taken up. Your petitioners being neither speculators, dummies, or capitalists, but working men and tradesmen, who dosjre to make homes on these blocks, feel aggrieved at the way in which tbay ara being treated. They were asked to ballot fty tljeir sections before they kuew. the values plaeej ou them, and now the first intimation of these values is accompanied with a demand, for twelve months' interest on land and roadg, before the latter are cleared ; a tlneit of forfeiture j and a printed invitation to surrender. Your memorialists, under the circumstances, trusfc.^pou will give due consideration to their representations, and afford them relief by opening up the blocks with serviceable roads, giving those who require it employment, and dating the rent from the date of the leases, with the further proviso that the ficst. year'a rent shall bo added to the capital value, instead of boing at; once collected,"

No stronger condemnation of the administration of a Government department could be penned than is contained in the above memorial. The marvel is that it emanates from a pledged Government stipporter. The attempt to excuse the Minister, on the ground that whatever there has been of wrong-doing is chargeable to the department and not to the Minister, will not avail Mr McKenzio. Everybody knows by this time that whatever course the Minister of Lands determines upon ho/follows in spito of departments and colleagues and the Legislature itself. Wherever, then, there is anything wrong in the lands administration. Mr McKenzie must quickly put it right or bear the whole of the bl^mc.