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Dunstan Times, Issue 1101, 1 June 1883, Page 2

The notice of intention to apply for a mandamus to compel the Waste Lmds Board to issue a license to one of the purchasers of deferred payment pastoral land at .Strath Tab ri, m face of the opinion of the Solicitor General that the Waste Land Board are perfectly justified in their action to test the bona fide of the purchasers,-is nothing more th in was to have been expected, ami the only wonder is that it was not done before. We do not believe in dumtnyisra—and in every legitimate way would put it down- anymore than we do in acta of presumptive assurance, that being the mildest of too mild terms we ca i apply to ihe action of the Board in demanding, .as it lias done, before it fulfi s its part of the contract, in asking Mr B.nnett and others of the purchasers where, when, and how they became possessed of the means to carry out the conditions of their leases. The whole proceeding of the Board has to our mind been beyond the letter and the spirit of its powers, and can end in nothing else than its own discomfort. One question asked of a purchaser was—if he intended, or had he made arrangements for the agistment of any other person’s cattle or sheep ’ It is the very first time we knew that the holder of an aviating farm was a criminal. The whole tenor ot the Waste Land Act, and the conditions of sale, are that the purchaser shall perform certain specific acts. Granted that these arc done, neither the Board or anyone else has a right to ask any questions. Time enough when there is failure. It is a generally admitted fact that a coach and four can be driven through most Acts of Parliament. The Waste Lands Act appears to bo a case in point, the framers doubtless bad tho very best of intentions, but they evidently overshot their mark, and wo rbiiik the Waste Lands Board, who are but the administrators of the law, should admit of the flaw, aud whilst there is time, with the best possible grace, withdraw from a contest that cannot but draw ridicule on them and expense on the country.