LAND BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2479, 19 April 1909, Page 6

LAND BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

7 COMPLIMENTARY SPEECHES. . Before tho ordinary business of the Hawke’s. Bay Land Board was entered upon on Saturday Air. H. Trent, Commissioner of Crown Lands, who is shortly to retire, said he wished to congratulate Mr. T. R. Brodrick upon his promotion to the position of Commissioner, and to introduce him to the of tlio Board, as Air. Broderick would preside at the next meeting. He’was .sure they would find All*. BroAderick an efficient officer who would fill “the position with credit to himself and to the Department. . ' Air. Eustace L-ans said he would repeat what ho had said at tho meeting in Napier 'and express his regret that the Government had seen fit to retire Air. Trent, but-sT the same time ho was glad the retirement had meant promotion to a deserving young man. He would welcome Air. Brodrick to the chairmanship of the Board. Since he (Air. Lane) had been on the Board he had been able to realise the difficult position a Commissioner held, and he wished to thank Air. 'brent lor the consideration shown to him as the member, representing the Crown Lands tenants. He wished to make it clear that often ill-founded reports got abroad that he considered he had booh unfairly treatt That was not- so, and beyond one incident, which occurred at Napier, in which he believed Mr. Trent had done what lie thought was his duty, there had never been any inconsideration shown. He also regretted Mr. Bartram’s retirement. Mr. Bartraml had not made the reason for his retirement public, but lie (Air. Lane) trought that Air. Bartram found it was impossible to sit upon the Board and take instructions. Instructions were given one week to be reversed the next; and the position of a member of the Board was not always a creditable one, and it was impossible for any intelligent man not to feel the songs extended to him. If that was the real reason for Air. Bartram’s retirement be complimented him upon his manliness. It was announced that Air. A T v. E. Alcroyd was unable to attend the meeting owing to illness. " Mr. Trent thanked Air. Lane for what he had said, and assured the Board that he keenly felt his severance from the Department. The work had been very pleasant to him, and, with the exception of one incident, there had been nothing to regret, and Lie now believed that Air. Lane recognised that the right course had been taken on that occasion, and that any ill-feeling that existed wao removed. Air. Brodrick thanked the Commissioner and Air. Lane for' tlieir kind words, and said he would remind them that he was not a young man, but had been 32 years in tlie service of the •Government. He had waited a long time for promotion, and it was alloyed because he was taking the place of- his old friend, Mr. Trent. Air. Trent and he had worked together for many years and their relations had always been the most cordial. He would always endeavor to do his duty on tlie Board, and trusted that if any differences did occur they would be as quickly bo forgotten at those between Mr. Trent and -,lr. Lane.