The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1908. AN UNPROGRESSIVE PEOPLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2097, 24 January 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1908. AN UNPROGRESSIVE PEOPLE.

The Minister of Lands and Agriculture, who has just concluded a brief visit to this district, is scarcely likely to have been impressed by the energy and discernment of Gisborne’s representative citizens. It is not such a far cry now to the time when Gisborne will be taking its .part in a general election, and when that time comes the land question will in all probability be once moro tile burning issue. The country will have to make up its-.mind whether it is going to send back to power a party with the ©ociaMstic tendencies of the Ward l Government—tendencies that would' assuredly bo intensified ii given a renewal of approval by the people—or whether it is prepared to hand the reins of administration to a more cautious Government, that will insist upon every -acre that. -is opened up for settlement by the Crown being settled in such a way as to give the best results for the individual, and the Dominion as a whole. No part of New Zealand is more vitally concerned in this pliaso of national politics' than is Gisborne, for its back country lias yet to bo developed, and an Immense issuo is therefore at staked yet when an opportunity was' available to hear the Minister himself expound his policy, there was apparently not sufficient energy amongst our leading citizens to arrango, the matter. One would naturally have thought that Government supporters would have taken this matter up, but possibly they are so dubious of the result that would attend the stirring .up of the subject . that- they prefer to “let sleeping, dogs lie.” ' Now that the session is over, and his iniquitous legislation actually on the Statute Book, Air. McNab apparently feels free to rejoice that after the 31st of March next, landholders will be compelled in self-interest to raise their own valuations, in order to retain their properties. On the face of it, this method may seem sound enough, for it may be plausibly argued that a mail has no cause for complaint if Ins land is taken from him at a slight advance upon his own valuation, bill in this contention the sentimental factor is -altogether lost sight of. Thus a mail' who has owned property for a great many years, and has been accustomed to look upon it as his permanent home, will probably pay taxes oil -a valuation far above its real value rather than run the chance of being turned out, but that fact does not make the tax a just one. However, oil this and other points it would 1 certainly have been interesting to have heard the .Minister.

lii Ill’s capacity as Minister of Agriculture, Mr. McNab should never have been allowed to go away disappointed at not having met some of the local farmers. In this department Mr. McNab is proving of real mine to the country, and the ramifications of the various branches are now so extensive that there is not a farmer am the district who cannot be benefitted very materially by taking advantage of its work. Yet local farmers allowed 1 the Minister to come and go without meeting him, and any matters they wero interested in

wore placed before Mr. McNab by professional gontloinon. In making those remarks we may invito the retort, “Why should wo rnako a fuss of Mr. McNab P No one is interested in politics just now,” and. the farmers may declare, “I don’t see that it will do mo any good to see him.” But this is simply the usual refuge of 11 io apathetic man and the indifferent community. With' a more progressive spirit the position would lie recognised that Mr. McNab is one of the leading members of a Government that is spending large 'amounts of public money annually, very little of which comes to Gisborne, and that any fact which would support the claims of the district to groatcr consideration couldi not be urged too strenuously or too often. If Gisborne Is to take the place in the* future that its opportunities entitle it to, the lackadaisical method's of the past must give place to something of the hustling, enterprising spirit that is just as necessary with a. community us with ail individual, if progress is looked l for. It is pleasing to know that the Minister goes away with a- grateful recollection of the courtesy extended to him by those citizens whom lie did meet, but it Mould have been still more satisfactory if not only the townspeople, but also the farmers, had shown a- keener appreciation of the opportunities offering, when a, Minister visits the place, to advance tlio district generally.