The Press. WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1885.

Press, Volume XLI, Issue 6142, 27 May 1885, Page 2

The Press. WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1885.

Wβ observe that come of our Northern contemporaries are beginning to take up the question of Native lands, and to discuas it as one of the most important subjects that is likely to occupy the attention of Parliament. The New Zealand Herald nrges that if the question is of importance to the whole colony, it is all-absorbing to Auckland. Oar contemporary called attention to the fact that very little notice has been taken of it in that part of the colony, and remarks that the circumstance ia somewhat remarkable " when we consider that those " who at present constitute the Govern* " ment of the country have shown that " they are badly informed on the rob- " ject, and entertain entirely erroneous " opinions respecting it." The Herald then points cut that it is of the utmost importance that the question should be discussed, and some understanding arrived at, for without such agreement " this all-important matter will be settled " by those who know very little of the " circumstances. Same members of the " Legislature desire to experiment on usi " witk their fads ; some are indifferent as !-*' to whether tbis part o< tfee colony mekeg " progress cr stands etUl; and some, it " may be feared, are not indifferent, bnt "would like it to stand etill." That some members of the: Legislature and jf the Ministry are anxious to experiment on th© .North Island with their fade ie evident enough. We do not admit, however, that there is evidence of a desire on the part of any. portion of the House to prevent the North Island from progressing. The fact that it took the necessary steps last session to authorise the commencement of the Trunk Railway showed that it was impressed with the importance of ensuring the prosperity of that part of the colony. It is perfectly true that the opening up of the King Country for settlement is of vital importance, as our contemporary points out, to Auckland; but it is of very great importance also to the rest of New Zealand. If, however, a feeling of self-interest has the effect of rousing the people of Auckland and the rJorth generally to a sense of the urgency of the question under notice, the colony at large must gain by their action. People on the spot or directly interested in the country to be opened up,, cannot permit the Native lands to be tthut up against settlement. As the Herald points out, "the colony "is at great cost making a railway "through a fertile country, which is yet " absolutely locked up. Within its limits "no cultivation is permitted. Unless " next session sufficient end proper mea- " euros are taken, this country may re- " main a wilderness for years to come. "Is is even possible that if erroneous " means are adopted to settle it, it may " remain a blot and an encumbrance, and " a source of vexation and strife to the a whole people." In former articles we have shown that the settlement of the Native lands hinges upon two points—first of all the ascertainment of title; and, secondly, the manner in which, the land is pat in the market when the title is ascertained. Aβ regards the first of these points we assume that our readers are acquainted in a general way with the existing system. When any Natives claiming to be owners of any had wish to set the machinery of the Act going, they make application to the Court, describing the land, its boundaries, and co for*<h. The Natives themselves are supposed to do this of their own wish, but, as a matter of fact, they are subjected to all sorts of influences in order to induce them to sell the land before the title has been ascertained. Much of the Legislation of recent years has been directed towards putting a stop to the gross corruption and swindling which too often accompany the proceedings before the Court. Ooe of the hut measures carried through the Legislature by Mr. Bsyci sought to provide effectual means of punishing those who resorted to illegal j J methods to acquire Native land; and if it was found that the legislation then enacted was not sufficient Mr. Bbyce was prepared, had he remained in office, to j propose etill more stringent measures for> securing that end. The whole tendency of hie policy was to put a stop to swindling transaetkme in Native lands, and to throw that land open at the earnest available opportunity to profitable settlement. The present Native Minister prof eases also to have views on the question of the settlement of the Native lands. We have already told our readers what he has done in bringing to a standstill the arrangements made by his predecessor for ascertaining the title to the

land in the King Country. A yew ego the survey for the purposes of the Court was all but completed, and tbe land would have been before the Land Court eight or nine months ago, bad the original plan been adhered to. Bat, as we have eaid, the survey was stopped. The title to the land has not been ascertained. Tb» railway has been com* meaoed, without any land being granted or any blocks acquired by the Government. This disastrous state of affairs has come about because Mr. Baxlakce has theories on the enbject of the manner in which the land ehonld be brought before the Court. He thinks that the Native Committees should do the greater part of the work of ascertaining tbe title. "We propose," he told the King Natives some months ago, "to give them [the Native Com- " mittees] large pewers in preparing " cases for the Native Land Court, so " that all cases will come before the "Native Committee in the first in- " stance, and then go on to ihe Native '• Land Court, who will finally deal with " the matter." Mr. Ballance's policy therefore is that the colony is to wait the pleasure of these Native Committees. Until they determine to act nothing can be done to settle tbe title to the land. We all know what that means. It means that the title to the land in the interior of the North Island will not be ascertained for years, for the Natives of their own accord never do settle anything. Under the existing law tbe delays can be made quite long enough to cause serious loss to the colony. But, if the Native Minister's policy is to prevail the public must abandon all hope of seeing the King Country opened up for the next dczen years at least Those who have a practical knowledge of the matter say that every fair means should be taken to hasten the work of ascertaining the title. Onr Auckland contemporary Iβ prepared to go much further in that direction than the late Native Minister proposed. He enggeats a plan for improving npon the existing law. It is as follows:— " The Government ought not to wait till " petitions are sent in for the hearing of " the evidence respecting a block here " and another block there. They onght " to say, We are going to take this work "in hand. Here are three or four " millions of acres under Native title, " and we are going to give the owners "Crown grants, so that this patchwork " system may be at an end. The work " might be done systematically. The " Survey Department have now trig " stations all over the country. The " points are now accurately settled. Tbe " Government could proclaim that it had " been determined to settle the titles of " all land within such and such a district, " naming the boundaries. Maps could " be issued showing the block proposed to "be operated on. On the appointed day " two Judges of the Court should set to " work. At present the Court is too " mnch a Court, and haughtily refuses to !" take cognisance of anything except " what is brought before it. We think " that under the new system they should " proceed more as a matter of investiga- " tioD, finding out the truth, and not " allowing themselves to bs bamboozled "by lawyers or scheming Natives. The " whole of the King Country could thus - "be dealt with in a very short time." We ere not prepared to say whether the above pl&n is practicable, or is likely to meet with the of the Legislature, j But we quote it for the purpose of show- j ing that Mr. Ballance's fads are not likely to meet with much approval in the ! North.: The people there see plainly enough that if his schemes Tare to prevail, the prcspority of the country will be seriously imperilled, and consequently the interests of the whole colony .needlessly sacrificed.