PUBLIC OPINION.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 6977, 18 February 1918, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION.

Native Lands. (To the Editor.):

Sir, —Mr Scuthey BCcuses ?cu of bad taste in ycui leading article of the 6tb instant, but is it not the acme of bad taste to start a controversy about cur native lands when this country is making -sucb enormous sacrifice?, both in men and money, fighting the Huns thht the sanctity cf tieaties- — especially treaties with , the weaker races—be scrupulously kept? The unfavourable comparison of cur present Member, the Native Lands Minister, who hss dor.c fo isucb for U?, with'the stiff upper lipped ere of the Atkinson Administration, the reference to "legislation of a drastic nature," and to cut Hnds ps "a eoie spct," show cleaily ILe solution Mr Soutbey wouH sugge-rt Is not the loading of our land with rates indirect confiscation? For cue fca? orly to go back far enough end charge interest and compound interest and one wculd have the lot. And wht>t about us rot being represented on the rating Local Board? Is this British? Besides do cv? land courts cost us nothing? I have spent many, many weeUs, many months, attending them, ard- mien I cc-uld not be present myself I have had to pay a substi'.uta or lose my ghare, and the services of a licensed Native Interpreter costs moaey. Mr Morris want? to hasten things, "cfcause of the war." But shoulJ far--reaching legislation ba indulged in rwhile the MEN are away? Might they friot have something to say in the nsatter? Must al! our land be taken iUp by the stop-at-homes? And when :iour dusky boys come home should they not find their dear old kainga intact. If increased production is really what is wanted,'the Government could »d----vance the Maori money on a mortgaga of his UNINDIVIDUALISED share.

Let them try it and see if we do not make as good a fist at farming our wbenua as the PakerißH do their.-?. Plen!y of Pakehas who lise on their lards grow practics.My r.othmg—fer.% €tc, exceptei—bscsuae cf the Lck of easb. Might this not be the c-.u*e, too, of our non-existent ttnets, etc. Should the Fakehu forget tbut cur and son?, a^d c-msin?, are "away fighting the great fight for freedom from oppression? and worry these who have learnt ta rfod with camouflaged talk of confiscation. — I am, etc., TE HIRAU RE A. Oropi, February 13, 191 S.