MR DUNCAN CRITICISED.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 351, 27 February 1902, Page 2

MR DUNCAN CRITICISED.

Southern journals take the Minister of Lands severely to task for his assertion to the effect that it was impossible for the Government to acquire land for settlement purposes, because the owners of suitable properties demanded unduly high prices, and when tiie matter was submitted to arbitration the Judges sided with the landowners, with whom they iiad symnathy. Uven that staunch Ministerial journal, the Lyttelton Times, has deemed it necessary to freely criticise the Minister making such an attack. It states that he has not been so eminently successful that lie can afford to disregard the ordinary canons of decency in his utterance, and that his administration of the Lands Department has been deplorably weak and inefficient; that of all the members of the Cabinet be undoubtedly was the least competent and the least progressive, As if this stinging reprimand were not sufficient, the Times coiittinues : “ The Minister of Justice had the other day to administer a sharp rebuke to an irresponsible officer of a Labour Union, who made an attack upon a Judge of the Supreme Court, and now we have a Minister of the t'Jpown making a charge quite as serious and quite as unwarranted against the administration of justice in the colony. If the adjudicators in land cases are to be liable to attacks of this kind by the Minister of Lands, we shall soon have them declining to consider any case in which his depart'iient is interested. The colony is already tired of tiie gross mismanagement and lack of energy in the department, and the public are in no mood tp pardon the wild and baseless Assertions of the Minister,” The Dunedin Star goes as far as to say that the Premier made tiie greatest mistake in his official career when he took Mr Duncan into the Cabinet, and unless he effectually puts the stopper on the foolishly indiscreet utterances of his colleague, he will yet have cause .) regret that lie w.as induced to make such a palpably stupid appointment.” But tiie . Star is not satisfied with that attack, and thus concludes a. vehement article : “So mischievous are the charges and insinuations of tiie Minister against the administration of justice in tiie colony that decided action should forthwith be taken, rml Mr Duncan politely requested to resign his portfolio. If tiie Premier takes the right view of the extreme gravity of tiie situation, lie will without hesitation adopt this course. It s not tiie case of a valued public servant. committing an isolated indiscreion, but of a weak and inefficient Minister letting his tongue loose and living to cover his incapacity by grossly defaming His Majesty’s judges in respect to tiie execution of their duty.” We do not suppose for a momem. that tiie Premier will consider the suggestions, but he will no doubt re mind him of the unwisdom of such conduct, though these attacks have 1 Lheii value with some people at elec- • .ior. time. '