The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1909. THOSE GRAZING RUNS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2414, 1 February 1909, Page 6

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1,1909. THOSE GRAZING RUNS.

Those wdid have followed the attitude taken up by this journal on the question of the renewal of certain grazing run leases will understand the satisfaction with winch we publish to-day the decision of the Premier to give effect to the policy which w r e advocated throughout as being the only just one that could be adopted. It is nearly twelve months ago since we took this matter up, and when it was first rumored that the local Land Board was likely to resume some of the runs w-e pointed out the injustice of such a proceeding. Later on came the Board’s decisions, and when it became known that Air. Fred. Hall, a prominent supporter of the Government and a personal friend of the Native Minister, had obtained a removal of his lease whilst refusals wore made in tho cases of two Opposition supporters, we wanted to know the reason why. We wanted to know amongst other things liow r it was that the decision of the Hawke’s Bay Land Board could be over-ridden by direct action of the Minister in favor of tho local supporter already mentioned. Wo de- , sired incidentally to ascertain wliat value, if any, there was in the personal friendship which was known to exist between the Hon. Mr. Carroll and Mr. Fred. Hall when the public .lands of the Dominion were in discussion. These matters were ventilated, and so long as the Hon. James Carroll remains in political life so long will ho look back with interest to the part played by the grazing runs episode <at tho his election meeting in the local theatre. Hie facts elicited by the publicity thus given were that the Hon. James Carroll had forwarded a letter to the Minister of Lands on behalf of his friend Mr.,Hall. A copy of this letter was read, but wild horses could not drag from the lion, 'gentleman a copy of Air. Hall’s letter, to him on tho saluo question, which he withheld on the grounds that it was a private communication. However, by this time the Native Minister was anxious to make peace on any terms, and lie promised to see that a public enquiry should be instituted into Mr. Black’s claim for a rohewal of his lease. It will now

he 'unnecessary to have that enquiry, and we do' not hesitate to .suggest that the Hon. James Carroll, being truly desirous of shirking any . further investigation of unpleasant details, lias conscientiously carried out his promise to assist Mr Black to get justice, and has indeed taken a strong hand- in tho decision that has been arrived at. f

Tito position taken up by ourselves from the outset was that all the grazing fun-holders under the 188 q Act, and particularly those in the North Island, had a moral if not a legal right M> renewal, and ihis is apparently the standpoint taken by the Premier. Had he been content to let the mat ter si and thus, little need hay;- hmii said but to congratulate him upon a wise decision, but when ho goes out of his way to verbally castigate one of the petitioners it is as well to look beneath his show oi righteous indignation and see what is the true position. Sir Joseph is horrified that Mr. G. J. Black should have travelled to the South Island to let his friends in his old home at Little River know how the Government was ‘•'carrying-on”in the North. In effect he suggests that it was only necessary for Mr. Black to state his case and be tvould receive justice. How many hundreds of persons in the Dominion could give the lie to such a statement, and prove by results how futile is a petition to the Government that cannot be backed up by a political “pull” of some sort. In this case Mr. Black had exhausted every possible means before he adopted what may be ternied his “aggressive campaign.” Ho had on behalf of his son, who was the lessee of the run in question, written to the Land Board on the matter, had visited Napier to wait on that body, whilst his sou had journeyed to Wellington and personally laid the lacts before the Minister of Lands.. Mr Black senior had also written fully and exhaustively to the Premier himself, and his letter, gave full notice of his subsequent intentions. To this communication lie merely received an evasive reply. The facts were brought up in Parliament by Messrs Massey and Horries, yet the real points at issue -were deliberately shirked by the Minister of Lands and also by the Premier, and until Mr. Black carried the war into the enemies’ country ho could get no satisfaction. Yet Mr. Black’s case was as just in November fast as it was on Saturday, and the difference between the attitude of the Government three months ago from its attitude to-day is a fine tribute to the pertinacity and grit of Mr. Black, who, confident of the justice of his claims, loft no stone unturned to advocate them. Sir Joseph’s professed indignation at the suggestion of political influence is merely amusing, and if intended to hoodwin’k the public will prove of little avail, for it is safe to say that there is not a single individual in Poverty Bay but is satisfied that political influence was exerted in order that Mr. Fred. Hall should have his lim returned to him. In what devious. ways that influence made itself operative is not for us to say, hut the Government has taken the most effective method of stopping further inquiries into a particularly unsavory matter. However, now that the grazing runs question has been virtually settled, we feel justified ,in expressing pleasure that the agitation commenced in these columns has resulted in a recognition, tardy thought it be,, of the legitimate rights of the holders of grazing runs, and particularly we would emphasise the magnificent and gritty fight of Mr. G. J. Black, who, whilst primarly interested on his son’s behalf, was 'at the same time fighting the battle of Crown tenants throughout the length and breadth of the Dominion.