THAT SOUTHLAND DEAL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8344, 3 February 1913, Page 6

THAT SOUTHLAND DEAL

The Hon. W. F. Massey is head of tho Government. He is also .Minister of Lands. Both of these positions are usually expected to require in the holder knowledge and capacity in keeping with the high responsibilities involved. Either position calls for intimate acquaintance with all that tho statute book has to say in relation to th© terras and conditions of land purchase. lease, transfer, occupation, conversion of tenure, and so on. More especially is it reasonable to expect Mr Massey in tho present circumstances to know tho land laws from A to Z, because it is only a few months since he piloted quite a vital Jiolicy measure through the House of Representatives making very material changes. Yet on tho extremely important question of the Crown’s legal claim to coal deposits comprised in sections held under lease, tho gentleman controlling tho Ministry of Lands is hopelessly at a loss. After our exposure of a really shocking transaction in Southland recently, involving tho loss of several thousands of pounds to tho State, and in view of tho public uneasiness and resentment naturally aroused, Mr Massey stated, in a speech at a Tory festivity, that ho could not express an opinion until an official report was to hand. In other words, tho Prime Minister and .Minister of Lands, faced with criticism too serious to disregard, and practically forced to make reference to th© matter, had simply to fall back upon the painful confession that ho did not know anything about it. Two days later—to bo precise, it was last Friday evening—when Mr Massey had returned to Wellington from Hastings, a reporter of the “New Zealand Times” specially interviewed tho Prime Minister concerning this strange transaction in Southland. Wo were anxious to give the public some information which might allay tho grave anxiety that exists. So we sought it at the fountain head. But in vain. Mr Massey had "nothing further to say at present”; he was “getting a report.” Now, in all seriousness and sincerity, what are people to think of this? The public, at all events, have knowledge of some of the facts. They know, for instance, that in the Liberal Land Act of 1907 tho State’s interest in coal deposits was specially safeguarded. They know that in tho last session of Parliament tho self-styled Reformers repealed tho section protecting the public from possible exploitation. It seems, too, that subordinate officers actually know more than the Ministerial head. The Auckland Commissioner of Lands, for example, has stated that tho freehold of lands will not be granted without “a proper reservation” as to coal or other minerals; that th© Southland leaso to which wo have referred several times recently was “specially endorsed” so as to reserve such rights; and that only a preliminary deed, not tho full title to the freehold of the land concerned, has been issued. W© should like to hop© that tho state ment of tho Auckland Commissioner may prove to be correct, but Mr Massey’s apparent want of knowledge on the point is tho reverse of reassuring.