Our Much-Inspected Land.

In Committee of Supply on the Department of Agriculture Estimates, Mr. Hawkins raised a point with which many, if not most, people will heartily agree. He declared that the appointment of inspectors was becoming a by-word throughout the colony. There were over a hundred inspectors under this department, and he had asked for a return at the beginning of the session giving the number, names, localities, salaries, and duties of these inspectors, but for some reason that return had been studiously blocked. It was information that the members of the House were legitimately entitled to. If there was nothing to hide, the Minister should bring along the return and give it to members. ... The return he had moved for was this:—"That there be laid before this House a return showing the names of all inspectors appointed during the period from the 1st April, 1904, to the 28th June, 1905, to the Departments of Labour and Agriculture; also the names and salaries of all inspectors holding office in the aforesaid departments to-day."