The Lending Board.

Manawatu Herald, 14 February 1895, Page 3

The Lending Board.

• ~t "* ike __i_is.fer_{.l organs _r_ Sirea Ilating a state-Befit that the majority of the applicants for loans under the Advances to Settlers Act are supporters of the Opposition. How do they know ? Is enquiry made as to th 6 pbliti.ftl views of all applicants, an. is it a subject ot _Hsc.isß.o_i at the tending fioard whether the applicants are of the v right colour" or hot 'f It.tybuld realty appear that not only is this the .kse; hilt tt.il. the result of the Board's conclusions on the subject is made public in certain quarters. We presume the valuers are required not only to report on tbe properties offered as security, but j also oH the vftltte of the applicants' j political opinions. The JLlen'Qib'g Board, in deciding on the policy which is to guide its advances, will, it seems, have to determine whether the public money at its disposal is to be used to reward those of the right colour, or to influence by attempted bribery those Who are not iti political accord with the Government. Otherwise the enljuirfr intb .thb political opinions of applicants will be valueless. That at the very initiation of the scheme the political opinions of the applicants should have been ascertained and proclaimed in order to manufacture political capital, shows conclusively that the advances are to be used in jhroiflbtioi. of political purposes, and that secrecy in regard to the nature of transactions is not to be depended on if publicity will suit Ministerial purposes. That the political opinions of business clients of the Advances Department should have been ascertained and proclaimed in the Ministerial journals, must shake all confidence in the proper administration of the scheme. We do not think the Public Trustee would lend himself to anything of this sort, but as President of the Lending Board he is much less in an independent position than as Public Trustee. The Colonial Treasurer is the power behind the throne there.— .Pwtf.