The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, November 18,1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1071, 18 November 1911, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, November 18,1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The general election should not be allowed to overshadow the municipal by-election, which lakes place on Monday next, when three candidates will offer their services to the burgesses to fill the vacancy on the Borough Council caused by the retirement of Cr Rimmer. That there is to be an election is evidence of the fact that interest is not flagging in municipal affairs. Two of the candidates, viz,, Messrs Barber and Eitflejohu, have set out their platforms, while the third candidate has not made any pronouncement. Mr Littlejou was a candidate at a previous election, and then, as now, advocated a progressive policy, particularly in regard to a drainage scheme. This is a subject which must again be laced by the ratepayers at no distant date. Mr Littlejohn is also in favour of good roads and footpaths and would support “only those movements which in his opinion are a direct benefit to the householders and ratepayers.” Mr Barber makes his first bid for municipal lile and says, if elected, he will endeavour to safeguard the burgesses interests to the best of his ability, having a due regard to the economic and efficient administration of borough affairs. Both these candidates are well-known locally and possess the necessary administrative qualifications to fit them for the office, and their success at the poll will depend upon the measure of individual effort they introduce into the election. The polling booth, as heretofore, will be in the Borough Council Chambers, and the polling hours between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

As we have previously hinted, we are not too enamoured of Mr Field’s views on the land question. This ol all questions in the world of politics is of paramount importance —beside it other subjects pale into insignificance. On this question Mr Field turned down the Government, for which action he admits he has been penalised. Well, that needn’t trouble him it he is a man of high principle. It is only the miserable time-server and place seeker —the political automaton —who grieves after he

has voted as his conscience or higher self dictates, and Mr Field should! remember that it is the stroug man who is prepared to stand alone. However, he voted against the Government on the leasehold issue. Now, what Mr Field has, as yet, failed to tell us is whether he is prepared to part with the people’s interest in the national endowments. We feel very strongly on this subject because it is of such vital importance to the future welfare of this Dominion. Again, we are not satisfied with Mr Field’s attitude on the question of Native lauds settlement —as we are dissatisfied with the administration of the Native Minister in this connection. Some time ago we saw a division list published iu one of the metropolitan papers, which disclosed the fact that Mr Field voted against a very important amendment in the Native Hand Claims Adjustment Bill, which had for its object the prevention ol aggregation of native leasehold lands. Hansard No. 20 (which has just arrived ), page 979, informs us what the nature of this amendment was. We quote It ; “(2.J Nothing in Bart XI! ol the Native Land Act, 1909, shall prevent the assignment or subletting of a leasehold estate, whether created before or alter the commencement of that Act, to any person who does not already at the time of that assignment or subletting hold any land exceeding one hundred acres (whether Native, or Crown land) as the beneficial owner, lessee or sublessee thereof, whether at law or in equity, and whether solely or jointly or in common with any other person. That clause, if it meant anything, aimed at a more satisfactory settlement of native lauds and the choking off of the “grabber.” Yet Mr Field hived off with the Opposition and pronounced out-and-out freeholders on the question. The clause was carried on the casting vote of the chairman, but was subsequently withdrawn. We again urge Mr Field to open out on the laud question when he next visits F'oxton.