Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 9, 1891. Worry Land Grabbers.

Manawatu Herald, 9 July 1891, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 9, 1891. Worry Land Grabbers.

"As previous to this my instructions have been to deal as leniently and report as favourably as possible with all settlers who are endeavouring to do their best," were the words used by the Ranger on this coast to a settler at Levin whom he had been cross-questioning about the owner--1 ship of lands, and cattle and crops. He said, " You must feel annoyed at my asking these questions. I am really ashamed myself to do so. " All this is to be found reported in Mr Macarthur's speech on the Financial Statement. If the Ranger was ashamed, and previomly had been instructed to act leniently, what reason had he for doing differently now? "But the present Minister of Lands has instruoted me to ask thus quoitioßi, and of eour.se I must

carry out his instructions," the Minister directly declared that he never \e any such instructions tor the Be ~ers ! It is very curious, as Mr Mftc-rthur remarked, that if no such in-: ructions had been given the conduct of the Rangers is so very different' to what it was before the Minister came into power. There were scores ..of statements, made ~toMr Macarthur by settlers throughout the district similar to the one ho read. The battle which the- Minister of, Lands is fighting is to prevent men with families from taking up land for the different members of their families. He appears so fearful that in time it will all be gathered together in the name of the head of the family. The questions put by the Banger to the settler at Levin all show this. '• Are those bullocks on section No. 7 yours," was one question, the section belonging to a neighbour. The Ranger then said he had no right to graze them, nor had the owner any right to permit it". He was liable to have his section forfeited. ''You had the crop from it (another own. cv's section) last season," This was explained by the crop having been taken in payment for the labour of putting it in, " Who did these im* provements?" about a of his, daughter's. "My daughter." He then wanted to know "if she had paid for it Out of her own moqey ?" " Whose sheep are those running on the section ?" learning thar. they belonged to the family generally, tlje Banger replied that it was illegal to run/his sheop,on this section and the section ran, the risk of forfeiture ! He wanted to know who had plonghed another section, belonging to the sou, the father said he had, as probably the son was employed on another part of the farm. Mr Macarthur, in addition, mentioned other cases, where a man sold his grass to a neighbour, as he himself could not afford to purchase stock, and .he had been told that ho was evading the land law; a man who asked his brother-in-law to give him grazing for his horse on his section, was also told he was evading the law. We have noticed, before now, the desire of Ministers to be a law unto themsnlves, and to disregard those alrea made. : The Minister of Lane ; o acts, as he not only refuses to pe." it settlers to have an opportunity ) obtain freehold land on deferred payments, but acts, through his officers, as we have mentioned, in opposition to the ruling of the Chief Justice, who says that a man may take .up land for his 'children, and spend money on it for their benefit. If the Minister is not mistaken in the denial ho mado as to having piven such instructions, we trust that definite orders" will be issued to guard against any such peculiar misconstruction being put upon his wishes for the future. If so, the discussion will not have been without its use.