THE HON. CARROLL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 99, 27 April 1903, Page 2

THE HON. CARROLL.

LEAVES FOR KAIKOHE TO-NIGHT.

The Hon. James Carroll, Native Minister, who returned to Auckland from Rotorua on.Saturday, proceeds to Opua by the Clansman this evening,. going thence to Kaikohe in connection with the native land trouble in that district. He will reach Kaikohe on Wednesday, by which time the natives, who are making great preparations to meet their minister, will all have assembled. The trouble arose over the investigation of titles of native" lands by a native committee. With the exception of one man, Iraia Kuao, who is causing the trouble, the whole people are unanimous in favouring the covering of their lands by legal titles, in order that they may utilise the land for themselves and for settlement purposes. As far as Mr Carroll can gather, Kuao objects, and wants things to remain as they are, threatening violence if the present course is persisted in. Fortunately, in the present instance, Kuao is unsupported, except that he may have the moral support of his own family, but he is a very determined and obstinate man by all accounts. The Hon. Carroll will investigate the trouble, hearing bofch sides, and will endeavour to effect a "pacific settlement. In any case the work of investigation must go on, and the purposes of the law carried out in regard to the settlement of the lands in the North.

While at Rotorua, Mr Carroll gave a day to the Conference of Councils, under the Maori Counoil'e Act, for the discussion of all matters of interest to the natives, except fche lands, vhtich are dealt with by Councils under the Maori Ea-nda Administration Act. The conference is doing very sensible work, and is dealing with large public matters in an intelligent' and practical way. Some very sensible resolutions have been passed in the direction of improving their own affairs, and suggesting reasonable amendments in the law that will remove existing anomalies, provide greater facilities for the carrying out of sanitary arrangements in the various districts, and better the natives socially and morally, prevent drunkenness and other vices to which they are addicted, and raise their domestic life to a higher satndard.

Regarding the Maori Land Administration Councils, Mr Carroll states that there will be a conference in Wellington during the session, to discuss the working of the Maori Lands Administration Act so far as it has gone, and the direction in which improvements can-be made in the effectiveness of its administration. This conference wall be a very important one, because the Act can be made much more workable than it is, so that more speedy results may be secured. The Act is working very well where there have been no local circumstances to retard it, and already a large area of land on the West Coast is advertised as being offered to the public in June 15, in areas ranging from 300 acres to 3,000 acres, while large sections in other districts will soon be ready for offer. But to make the whole thing swing- easier, and to put a better face on the work. Mr Can-roll is of opinion that the number of councillors in each district will have to be reduced to make the Councils lighter in movement and action, and the best men possible will have to be secured to carry out the Act.