The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1908. THE WRITING ON THE WALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2340, 5 November 1908, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1908. THE WRITING ON THE WALL.

The Honorable Mr. James Carroll had an entirely new experience at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening, when he wooed the electors of Gisborne for another term as their parliamentary representative. In the past this eultured, able politician, has been in the habit of receiving the unstinted admiration and enthusiastic applause of those who have listened to his eloquence. His enemies might proclaim his faults, even his own supporters might become disgusted with his hopeless indolence, but once on the hustings the Honorable James would smile that broad goocl-lmmored smile and by the__ charm of his oratory take his audience by storm and effectually disarm all opposition. But there is a limit to all things, even to the power of words poured forth wjth the skilled art of so accomplished a rhetorician as the .Native Minister® There comes a time when the people want something more tangible than a mere flow of. language be it ever so pleasantly uttered. In other words, the “taihoa” policy has had it s day, and a large section of the community has evidently decided that a change of representation is desirable. This was the general tone of last night’s meeting, but it was not until Mr. Carroll ventured upon the grazing runs question that the real significance of the changed attitude of the public towards the sitting member was mado manifest. We have during the past six mouths directed public attention to this matter so frequently that there is no need to again cover its essential facts. From start to finish wo have stood for a square deal for the owners of these grazing runs, and have protested as vigorously as possible against the barefaced manner in which a Government supporter has been favored as against those holding different political views. That the public is entirely with us in this matter was amply demonstrated by the reception of Mr. Carroll’s lame attempt to explain away hia own connection with the affair. The hon. gentleman spent well nigh an hour in an endeavor to satisfy the audience that the Government had acted equitably in the matter and that he himself was free from the stigma of having used political influence on. behalf of a Government supporter. When lie had finished, the hand facts to which we drew attention months ago remained unrefuted. The chief one is, that of three grazing runs under discussion, the only tenant wlio could secure a renewal of his lease was Mr. Fred. Hall, a prominent Government supporter and a personal friend of Mr. Carroll, and lie received this concession in defiance of tlic recommendation of the Land Board, which was to the effect that bis run be subdivided. We contended, and. still contend, that Mr. Hall was' entitled to a renewal of liis lease, but that it was manifestly unfair that he should be thus favored whilst bona fide .settlers such as Messrs Black and Caesar, who happened to be on the Opposition side in politics, coukVnot obtain, renewals. ~As to Miv Carroll’s connection with the '.affair;, it is gratifying to at last find .some information 011 the subject which repeated requests in Parliament failed to produce. It now appears that Mr. Carroll did write to. the Minister of Lands on the question of Mr. Hall’s run, .and, although the document was carefully worded, the Minister, if he devoted a® much .attention to it as he did to the report of the' Land Board on the same subject, might easily have got the impression that his colleague would be very.glad indeed if the applicant's desire was granted. . Certainly there was nothing to prevent Mr. Carroll, having become so far interested in the subject, from dropping a quiet hint) to his fellow Minister on the matter and - verbally endorsing the' protest.. In any case, his promptness in putting Mr. Hall’s petition forward is hi marked contrast with his masterly* inactivity .referring Mr.v . •. V:.j ' ' ■■ ■ ' ' ■ " ' ■ • '• V :

the Waste Lands Committee. On the moral rights of the grazing run® settlers to renewals of their leases, Mr. Carroll’s solo reply was that this was a legal matter. When referred to the Crown Land.® Guide, which specifically stated that the runs were to, be renewed, the only response was that the Guides were not law. One can only hope that these replies were simply the hasty utterances of a candidate worried by the heckling he had received, for we should ho sorry to think that a Minister of the Crown failed to take higher ground in dealing wit'll* the responsibilities of the State. Driven to desperation Mr Carroll fervently promised to support a Royal Commission to investigate the matter, to, facilitate its decision by the Supreme Court, or to bring it before Parliament next session. It; really seemed as if the lion, gentleman was prepared to make peace on any terms, but the obvious retort to all this is: ‘‘Where was the support of Gisborne’s representative when the matter was before Parliament in the session that ha® just closed ” It was not forthcoming, except for a Government supporter and personal friend. Oil another occasion we shall deal with other points in"Mr Carroll’s speech, which it must be confessed was the most disappointing that the lion, gentleman yet delivered in Gisborne.