THE WEST COAST SETTLEMENTS RESERVES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1497, 20 July 1912, Page 6

THE WEST COAST SETTLEMENTS RESERVES.

Sir,—l am nol intcre~led in l.l)«-« reexcenl. a> one of the public, who lw< watched for the last Ihirly year? flic! Political agita.tinns which have from time lo time resulted in improved conditions <•<> the l?f««M, mc*t; n[ whom Unvn dn»i> well,, and I can orJj suddom that tho

recent commission which was set up by the Jlackenzie Government (or was it the Ward Government that promised it) to get rid of a. renewed importunity for special treatment for tho leaseholders. That there was not much to Lo said in favour of yet another extension' of privilege may havo been the reason why, prior to the general election, an inquiry was promised, might go without saying, lint so many advantages had accrued from agitation that possibly tho easiest way of getting yet another, and at the samo timo the easiest way of shunting a troublesome request was to appoint a commission. The result was really a foregone conclusion. There was no case. But what I am concerned at is to draw attention to Iho expense that has resulted to the public from what was tho grievance (if it may be so called) of a comparatively few electors of the districts • around Mount l'igmont. In.April last, two stipendiary magistrates—one from Wellington, the other from Wanganui—wore appointed to take evidence, ant) report, which they ■ hevo ilono, as disclosed \>y a VarTiameniary ( L'awre }\\st ciievAateA—Cβ, Sess. 11, W\s. Tlie report takes up something kss tKtvn. seven pages—ollo reciting tho commission, I four summarising tho legislation on the subject which tho commissioners may bo assumed to havo known, or could Lave been supplied with, in half an hour )iy tho Public Trust Office, within whoso administration tbeso reserves havo been for many years,' and the remainder, of tiro pages, bj; the "findings," To accomplish this, task, the commisI sionci-3 sat (with intervals to enable them i to leisurely .ndjourn from place to. placo I around Mount Eginont) from May 8 to Juno 24—say, bix weeks. Evidence was taken, and so on.up to Juno 4. -After that the procedure was: '. • Wednesday, June 5: Public Trust Office tiles produced. ■'I'lraYsdsvy, Juno 6: ConiinissioDers engaged during dav perusing official documents and exhibits. Friday, 7th; Saturday, Bth j Sunday, 9th; Jloutlay, 10th June: The. chairman engaged at Jlawera examining files and drafting report, the other commissioner having left for Warigamii. Friday, Hthj Saturday, 15th, Sunday, lfith; Monday, lVth; Wednesday, 18th June: The chairman further engaged in Wellington drafting report. Thursday, Juno 20: Both (in.Wellineton) engaged all day and evening with preparation of report. Friday, Juno !il: "Tho commissioners engaged perusing typewritten draft of report."

'Saturday, Juno 22: "A further draft of report having,been prepared, the commissioners, were engaged in perusing samp." . '. * Sunday, June 23: Final report prepared and signed. Monday, Juno 24: The report was forivnrdod to tho Isativo Jlinister for transmission to his Excellency. Apart from tn-o days engaged in receiving files ami perusing official documents and exhibits (as .noted above), tho chairman, .took nine, days (part of "the time in Hawera, the. rest. of. tho timo in Wellington) in" preparing the report, aud both for other five days in .completing it; sixteen days after the hearing closed, tho report, so'far as original mattor was concerned, • covering two pages of jiica type. * How much will all this cost tljc general taxpayer, besides the salaries of the stipendiaries detached from their ordinary work? Will some member ask for a return;—l am, etc., . A TAXPAYER. June IC. ■■■" '