The Land Question.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 12, 31 January 1905, Page 3

The Land Question.

APPOINTMENT OF THE COMMISSION.

The following is the text of the Land Commission:—

The chairman is Mr W. S. Reid, who was Solieitcr-Goneral for very many years, and has a thorough knowledge of the land laws of tbe colony.

Mr Janies McKerrow was for many years Surveyor-General, and Secretary for Lands, and his knowledge of land settlement, cultivation and occupation is extensive and sotisfactory.

Mr W. W. McCardle is a farmer of many years’ experience. He was for many years a member of tbe Wellington Land Board and Education Board; he was also a member of one of the Councils under the Maori Lands Administration Act.

Mr J. M. Johnson, of Palmerston North, is an ex-banker, and is well versed in. financial matters and land values, and he is treasurer of

the Manawatu Agricultural an d Pastoral Association. Mr Robert Hall, of Auckland, is a farmer of large experience in the Auckland provincial district; bis I opinions on land matters are held in high estimation ; he is one c>f I the trustees of the Dilworth estate. * Mr Donald McLennan is a Crown I tenant in Otago. Mr G. W. Forbes is a farmer on ] the Cheviot estate, and had a large I commercial training before he went farming ; he has been chairman of the Cheviot County, and throughout Canterbury commands the confidence of the sett'ers. Mr John Anstey is a well-known farmer in South Canterbury, and for many years a director of the Farmers’ Co-operative Association ; he is a lessee on an educational reserve. , Mr W. B. Matheson is a fanner of large experience at Eketahuna, and is an office-holder in the Farmers’ Union. Mr J. G. Paul is the president of the Otago Trades and Labour Council. It will be seen that every interest is represented, both town and country. Apart from Mr McKerrow and Mr Reid, there are two members representative of Canterbury, two Otago, two Auckland, and two the Wellington districts. It will be noted that no members of Parliament and no members of Land Boards, and no officials have been appointed. The scope of the Commission is wide, and covers all and every ground and phase of tbe land question demanding investigation. Mr R. A. Lougbnau has been appointed secretary, and the Commission will proceed at once with its labours. The time for the Commission to report has been fixed for May Ist, but provision is made for an extension, which probably will be found necessary. SUGGESTED ITINERARY. It is suggested that the Commission should first meet in Wellington to settle preliminaries, and then proceed direct to Invercargill and take evidence, thence work through I to Dunedin and through the Otago district, taking special evidence as to pastoral runs and proposed resumption for close settlement, and also as to terms for regrassing runs and their general improvement by licensees. The Commission would then work northward to Christchurch, and after working the Canterbury district, would proceed by coach to Hokitika, and take evidence in Westland, then by Greymouth and Reefton to Nelson, thence to Blenheim, and return to Wellington, making up a report for the South Island. In the North Island the Commission would proceed direct to Auckland and take evidence in that city, then go direct by steamer to Wanganui, returning by steamer to the Bay of Islands, and across by coach to Hokianga, thence by coach and train via Towai and Hukerenui to Whangarei, and take evidence in that district. From there the Commission would return to Auckland, then through the Waikato and the Kawhia district, using the Main Trunk line as a base, and from the Mokau settlement drive through to New Plymouth, and take evidence in that district, thence by rail to Napier, and take evidence in the Hawke’s Bay district, and by steamer to Gisborne, returning to Napier and thence to Palmerston North. Thence the Commission would go through by rail to Pahiatua, etc., finishing in Wellington, where the final report would be prepared.