EDUCATIONAL RESERVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1275, 9 June 1884, Page 2

EDUCATIONAL RESERVES.

Something like a deadlock exists batween the Otigo High School Commissioners and the Minister of Lauds as to the mode of dealing with reserves at Waikaia. The Commissioners some time ago passed a resolution that the-laud in question be disposed of iti the proportion of one-thud for cash and two-thirds on deferred payments, and to meet the views of M?r. Rolleston set apart several selections for village settlements. The Minister of Lands Wrote requesting them to reconsider thair decision. The reasons which ne urged upon them when he personally conferred with them and recommended perpetual leasing had (acquired additional strength from the fact that the system had met with success both with Crown lands and education reserves. The primary object of these reserves was to provide a permanent and increasing source of revenue, and their sale was only justifiable when rendered necessary in the interests of settlement and to increase the value of the remainder. Five days later the Under-Secretary forwarded to the Commissioners a communication received by the Minister from the Wakaia Laud and Progress Committee,askingthato os-half or at least one-third of the land surveyed and to be offered for sale, should be so offered under the nerpetual lease system. Last week the Commissioners mat, and passed a resolution adhering to their former decision, two members dissenting. They decided to forward to the Minister the

following reply—“ The Hon. Mr Hollos* ton says that he hopes that a portion of the lands referred to in your letter will be dealt with in accordance with the intention of the Legislature, as expressed in the Land Act, 1882. Surely Mr Rol.leston does not mean that his interpretation of the intentions of the Legislature in framing tho Act is to be the standard rule of direction for the Commissioners in their administration of it. • In the Eduoa tion Reserves Act, 1877, and in the Otago and Southland Education Reserves Act, 1878, ample powers of administration, short of a p >wer of sale, were given to the Commissioners. The power of deter-

mining that education reserves should be opened for settlement by way of sale was conferred on them by the Land Act, 1882, and the confidence of the Legislature in their administration was evidenced by a provision in that Act, whereby when the Governor agreed to the recommendations of the Commissioners that certain education reserves should be disposed of they could only be disposed of in conformity with the terms of that recommendation. The Legislature professed to give the Commissioners freedom of administrative action within defined limits, but this freedom is illusory. It is nothing but a mockery if an imperious Minister of Lands is ensitled t > censure the Commissioners and frustrate thsic efforts to secure the industrial occupation of waste lands, it they venture to act upon opinions different from those he entertains upon the most advantageous mode of aettding these lands, although their action is strictly within statutory limit). Moreover, it is not improbable that Mr Rolleston deceives himself if he believes the opinion of the Legislature to be eminently favorable to the nostrum of perpetual leasing Ha cannot fail to remember that the Land Bill of 1882 could not be carried through until it was amended by the insertion of a parch isiug clause, and that all his influence was strained in obtaining & modification of tint clause which, to some extent, limited its application, and also that the attempt to repeal ihat purchasing clause by his Land Act Amendment Bill, 18 i 3, of which it was a prominent provision, caused ths summary rejection of that Bill in the last session of the General Assembly. The Commissioners are of opinion that their action is in conformity with the law, and that the course they desire to take will be the most conducive to the prosperous settlement of the district. They venture to express a hope that the Fion. Mr Rolleston will forego his own private opinion on this occasion, and cause effect to bo given to the recommendation of the local administration ‘ i