The Minister for Monopolists.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 6927, 9 October 1889, Page 2

The Minister for Monopolists.

(Christohurch Star.)

The Hon. G. F. Richardson, whose official title facetiously states that he is "Minister for Lands and Minos," seems to be getting into trouble. His land administration has had to submit to some awkward exposures latoly. As for his treatment of the Mining Department, his well known nickname of "Minister against Mines" speaks plainly enough on that head. A meeting of Cromwell miners passed a resolution the other day calling on the Government to appoint "some competent person" to take charge of the Mining Department. This was a little rough on the Hon. G-F., but then minars are a rough race of people. When they think that any politician has "duffered out," as they put it in their expressive lingo, they let the opinion become known to all whom it may concern without the least delay. We wish the Cromwell minors the best of good luck in their crusade against official neglect and apathy, but we fear that their chances of getting a competent person to attend to their wants ore small indeed, while the Atkinson Ministry remains in place. Nor have the hona fide settlers of the soil a much better prospect, Mr Richardson makes a great deal of parade of his desire to open up fresh country for settlement. But he says nothing at' all about his actions in locking up suitable areas from time to time. Other people have to draw attention to such little matters for him. He is too modest and retiring. Very recently the settlers of the Mount Ida district made an application through their member to have a large area l thrown open for settlement On a run hitherto bolongmg to a gentleman named Pogson. The request was quito reasonable, as there happens to be very little land available for small cultivators or graziers in the district just now. But Mr Richardson refused it for no good reason whatever. For this he has been taken very much to task by the Mount Ida Chronicle and the Oamaru Mail. Tho Chronicle is by no means an extreme Radical paper, and as for the Mail, that newspaper has been lately engaged in strongly supporting Mr Hislop, late Colonial Secretary, in his candidature for Oamaru. So we see no reason to suppose they would condemn Mr Richardson without oauso or object. In their opinion the Minister for Lands is a mere tool in the hands of Bquatters and monopolists.