SMALL GRAZING RUNS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2236, 31 October 1908, Page 4

SMALL GRAZING RUNS.

STATEMENT BY MR. CARROLL.

QTJESTJION TO BE THRASHED OUT.

AVhile spaeking at Te Arai last evening, the Hon. James Carroll referred to the renewal of the leases of the small grazing runs. He said they had seen a great deal of corresixmdence in the newspapers because the Government, recognising its power, thought fit to say that when the leases expired on certain grazing runs the holdings should be cut up and offered to the public. Certain holdings, the Government thought, were not fit for subdivision, and these had been handed' back. Then those leaseholders who had not had their leases renewed considered they had a grievance. The agitators wanted to saddle the act upon his (Air. Carroll’s) shoulders, and suggested a. charge—almost a criminal charge—that he used his political influence to favor some of his personal friends. He intended to thresh the matter out, and would deny the charges made against him. His critics said they had seen correspondence -showing his position in the transaction, but why did they not prove their statement. They could not prove that he had influenced the Land Board in any way; but they continued to cast insinuations. He intended to publish a letter written by himself to the Minister for Lands, which dealt with a complaint from a settler on the short notice he had received that his run was to be cut up. He (Air. Carroll) had, in thatletter, merely transposed the leaseholder’s letter into the third person and repeated the leaseholder’s complaint. One tenant had interviewed him on tire question, but lie (Air. Carroll) told him that the question was one for the Land Board to deal with. He suggested to' the tenant that the question should be dealt with by the AVasto Lands Committee, and the matter venilated in the House. He (Air. Carroll) was not the Alinister for Lands, and had lio control over the Lands Department, but lie would say that the run, the lease of which was renewed, had been reported by the Board as unsuitable for subdivision in the first instance. The Board afterwards wavered and changed its mind, and they blamed the absurdity of their position- to a clerical error. He was sorry the whole thing had occurred, but the fault was with the Land Board in not making haste to correct the clerical error. He (Air Carroll) had no objection to a man parading his grievances, but lie did object to a man squealing when he lost a few thousand pounds, for tlio innholder, who was squealing, was a sub-tenant. He had perhaps paid too much for his lease, and the original lessee was laughing up his sleeve. He (Air. Carroll’s) critics said the whole election rested on the grazing rim question, and he intended to thresh the matter out. The complaining tenant said the country was doomed unless lie got back his land. Inc election also depended upon whether his (Mr. Carroll’s) private affairs would stand inspection, what faith he belonged to, and his personal habits. He had. in fact, to conlorm to the dictates of other people, and upon those questions liis critics said the election would rest. They would not, those critics thought, rest upon who would best represent the people or who would work hard for the people. However, he again sought the confidenee ol' the electors, und if the people still thought, he could servo them he would bo proud to do so.