I.—sb.

36

[j. STBAUCHON.

again refused. June, 1912 : Canterbury Land Board recommended that sections in Oxford Bush Block be disposed of to local bush-workers subject to regulations under section 195 of the Land Act. Recommendation declined by Minister, and land subsequently opened on optional system. July, 1912 : Auckland Land Board recommended that £ t acre in Block VIII, Orahiri Survey District, be sold to adjoining holder without competition. Minister disagreed, and the area was sold at public auction. August, 1912 : Hawke's Bay Land Board recommended that permission be given to transfer a portion of a section in Pouparae Settlement which had no road access. Minister refused to permit transfer. September, 1912 : Otago Land Board recommended transfer of Sections 56, 57, 60, and 61, Block V, Strath Taieri Survey District, from James McKinnon to J. W. Graham. Minister refused to sanction transfer. October, 1912 : Otago Land Board recommended that an education reserve in the Town of Waihola be sold. Minister decided not to agree to the recommendation. November, 1912 : Southland Land Board recommended transfer of sections in Block XXIII, Invercargill Hundred, from Thomas McCarthy to James Butler. Minister refused his consent. January, 1913 : Otago Land Board recommended that Pastoral Run No. 98, Waitaki, be disposed of by application. Minister disagreed, and the run was advertised for auction, but subsequently withdrawn in view of proposed legislation. January, 1913 : Canterbury Land Board recommended that 5 acres of land in Bourndale Settlement, worth £18 an acre, be sold to the Presbyterian Church authorities at £13 12s. 6d. an acre. Minister disapproved. February, 1913 : Taranaki Land Board recommended that 22,584 acres be opened for selection under the bush and swamp clauses of the Land Act, 1908. Minister disagreed, and the lands were opened under the ordinary optional system. May, 1913 : Wellington Land Board recommended that sections in Kaitieke, Mangonui, and Whirinaki Survey Districts be opened under the bush and swamp clauses of the Land Act, 1908. Minister disagreed, and the lands in question were opened under ordinary optional conditions. May, 1913 : Westland Land Board recommended that 5,898 acres be opened under the regulations for the occupation of pastoral lands in Westland Mining District. Minister decided not to open the land then. August, 1913 : Otago Land Board recommended that pastoral license over Run No. 217b be transferred from Matheson to J. Cowie Nichols. Transfer disallowed by Minister. 4. It is quite usual for the Minister to disagree?— Yes. 5. Mr. Witty.] In nearly every case you have mentioned the veto was against aggregation, and that the sections had to be put up separately?—l presume so; I am not intimate with all these cases. 6. The Minister refused to allow aggregation in nearly all cases?— Yes, the Minister is always against aggregation. 7. In one or two cases he refused transfers, and the Minister no doubt, had very good reasons in each case: that was in the case of transfers, and not aggregation?—lt may be—l could not say. We could turn up any amount of them if we could get the names. 8. Mr. Forbes.] Amongst those decisions do you remember one that caused public' dissatisfaction ?—No, I canont, but I must confess I am not intimate with a lot of the cases which were before my time. It is only from the recollection of officers of the Department that we turned up these cases. We have no index to trace them by. 9. Hon. Mr. Massey.] You know of cases where the Minister has agreed with the recommendation of the Land Board and disagreed with the recommendaiton of the Department?— Yes, there have been such cases frequently. We do not claim that the Department is infallible.

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