THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. MONDAY, JAN. 11, 1909. MIINSTRY AND KING COUNTRY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 121, 11 January 1909, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. MONDAY, JAN. 11, 1909. MIINSTRY AND KING COUNTRY.

The reconstruction of the Cabinet which tils just been achieved by Sir Joseph Ward, is no less important to the King Country than to- other and more thickly populated districts. Without criticising in detail the various appointments, it may be said that very general disappointment was felt Ofgr the noninclusion in the new Ministry of Mr Jennings. A faithful adherent of the liberal party and a hard working and capable parliamentarian in every respect, the claims of our member were felt to be of the strongest. As Minister for Lands. Mr Jennings would have been welcomed by the country people with a confidence which has not been hitherto felt by the farming community in that particular branch of the Ward administration. It remains to be seen if Sir Joseph Ward csn so direct the land policy of the Government that the pronounced leasehold leanings of a section of the Cabinet will be sufficiently checked, to frustrate a further probable assault on the freehold citadel. Considering the manner in which previous leasehold proposals were received, the Prime Minister is doubtless convinced that extreme care will require to be exercised in any future legisla-

tion affecting the land, and his decision to administer the portfolio personally was naturally influenced by this aspect of the case. Of equal importance to the Lands porfolio, as far as this district is concerned, is that of Roads and Bridges, and in Mr Hogg it is claimed that a Minister has been found who has an intimate knowledge of back block conditions. In making ; such a selection, Sir Joseph Ward was \ doubtless influenced by the fact that ! the roading system of the North Island « is lamentably behind the requirements ; o' settlement. Moreover, the claims of the North Island, where settlement , is proceeding at a remarkable pace, \ could no longer be overlooked for *uch , an cHscntailly pioneering department, \ It is to be tincerely hoped Mr Hogg's : selection will be justified,by his ad- • ministration. He has fine opportunity of carrying on one of the most Import- \ ant departments of the country in a ; manner capable of giving greater satis- ; faction than has been the case in the \ past, and of bringing into productive- j ne*d much moro quickly, some of the j finest country in the Dominion. The ; settlers of our district should lose no time in endeavouring to induce the new j minister to visit the King Country, j We have everything to gain and no- 1 thing to lose by fostering a close ac- : qualntance with the head of th» depart- j

ment. The whole progress of the district depends upon the extent of our facilities for transit, and anything that can assist in transforming our present mud channels into decent roads will be welcomed. There need be no

reticence or modesty evinced in advancing our claims. Our district has been wofully negk-ited in the past, and there are innumerable legitimate reasons for requesting greater consideration in future. A personal knowledge fi surrounding conditions on the part of the Minister is the first step towards obtaining such consideration, and by taking the earliest opportunity to provid* such knowledge the settlers

will be advancing their own interests considerably.