THE HAWKE’S BAY LAND BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2454, 19 March 1909, Page 2

THE HAWKE’S BAY LAND BOARD.

At the last, meeting of the Board a letter was read from the Under-Secre-tary for Lands, stating that the Premier had made a promise to a deputation at Gisborne, that the leases of the grazing runs should be renewed. Whereupon, the Commissioner of Crown Lands moved that” having regard to tlm Premier’s promise, their former decisions should be rescinded, and rescinded they were. This was the second time within a few months that the Board had gone back on its resolutions at the dictation of the Minister. We do not question the merits of these inerferences; they may have been amply justified. But it would be interesting to know what the exact functions of the Board are. If they are entrusted with the exercise of discretion, they should use it and they should be freo from the dictation of Minister or official. If they exceed their jurisdiction they can be called to account, but within their jurisdiction they should be allowed to administer the business placed under their control. If the Minister can order them to- remind their resolutions at his pleasuie, the Board might as well not exist. Frankly our local Board seems to have no mind' of its own, and we do not doubt that the work could he done equally well by the commissionei, under departmental control. It is interesting to note the different attitude of the Otago Land Board, in a recent case that went into the Surerne Court. They insisted on their right to exercise their discretion, and, rightly or wrongly cfnr>l- to ther.' oniuions... Our Board is ' clearly more amendable io discipline^