The Press. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 18838.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7156, 18 September 1888, Page 4

The Press. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 18838.

Notwithstanding what has been said to the contrary in some quarters, we venture to affirm that when the legislation of the late session comes to be carefully considered, it will be seen that it was in many respects of the very greatest importance to the tuture welfare of the colony. We say nothing at present of the financial business done; that has already been pretty fully discussed already, and it is generally agreed that the House was eminently successful in its endeavor to equalise the revenue and the expenditure. We are referring now rather to the measures of a remedial character which have been passed at the instance of the Government. It will be agreed, we presume, that for many years to come it will be one of the principal duties of the Legislature to encourage and promote settlement on the waste lands of the colony. In the second session of 1887 the Land Act Amendment Act was passed, having for its object the removal of vexatious and unnecessary restrictions upon settlement. Jt is only during the last few mouths that the measure has been in full operation. It took time to bring the new law into force ; and more time for the public , to realise what the changes meant. Now that the law is understood it is most encouraging to learn that a most gratifying demand for land has sprung up, and which promises to grow in strength month after month. As long as intending settlers found themselves, brought up at every turn with difficulties and restrictions, comparatively little progress was made. It is a fortunate circumstance that the revival in the value of some of our most important agricultural products' has taken place after our land laws have been amended.; Should the dairy industry get ! thoroughly established, should the revival in the value of frozen mutton be maintained, or even partly maintained, we may naturally expect a materially increased demand for land for settlement, Aβ the law now stands, all hindrances to the immediate occupation of these lands are removed, and we may, therefore, look for a large addition to the number of those, who are devoting their energies to the cultivation of the soil. So much for one of the great remedial measures of the second session of 1887. Of almost equal importance to the future of New Zealand was the Native land legislation of the late session. People in the South Island are too much inclined to ignore thp existence of the North, and to treat it as if it were in some way or another quite a separate country. The consequence is that no effort is made to inform themselves on the important subject of Native land legislation. There is a vague impression that the Native land laws are a hopeless mass of complications, and that the transactions permitted, under them are mora or less discreditable to all concerned. No doubt the question is one of extreme difficulty ; and in the past there has been, unfortunately, only too much justification for the belief that jobbery and corruption were possible as the law was then administered. Bub during the last eight or nine years much has been done to render a repetition of such proceedings impossible. During Mr Bbyce's resolute administration the Native Department underwent a wholesome and most vigorous overhauling, so that exposures such as it was his duty to make are, we hope, no longer likely to occur. The Native Land Disposition Act of the late Government was allowed to pass mainly because its advocates asserted that it would put an end for ever to any possibility of defrauding the Natives in any shape or form. But like all legislation, of the kind it was shown to be defective in almost every respect. Passed for the express purpose of guarding the Natives against the wicked schemes of thenwhite neighbours, it put a complete stop to transactions in Native landa of any kind. This is neither what the Natives nor the Europeans wanted. The demand for new legialatipmcams

aa loudly from the Natives as from the European settlers, and the Native Acts of the last session -was the result.

We have said that the passing of the Land Act Amendment Acfr of 1887 is likely to exercise a moat important influence upon the future progress of the colony, because it enables the people who are here, and who are likely to be attracted to the acquire Crown lands on the most terms. The Native Acts will accomplish a similar result in the North Island. The Natives possess vast tracts of land which are entirely useless to themselves, and are productive of no advantage to the colony. They could neither utilise these lands, nor would they do anything to part with them under the "late law. The result was practically the stoppage of all colonising operations in the north. Briefly stated, the Native land legislation of the late session aims at placing the Native owners on the same footing as European landowners after certain stringent conditions have been observed. In the tirst place, provision is made for preventing the Natives from parting with land which is necessary for them to live upon. They cannot, even if they desire to do, so completely deprive themselves of their lauded estate as to become paupers. In the second place, the true owners of the land must be accurately ascertained, and a title issued, and the fact notified for a period, before anyone can enter into negotiations for the purpose of acquiring the laud. All these precautions have beeu taken in order to protect the Natives and to avoid difficulties and complications as to titles in the future. After these conditions have been complied with, the Natives are free to deal with their land as they please. There is nothing to force them to sell. If they desire to hold their property they can; if they wish to realise upon it they are in a position to do so. It will take some time, no doubt, before the new law makes itself felt. We do not expect an immediate rush for lands, or a wholesale effort on the part of the Natives to part with their property. At the same time the most beneficial results may bo expected. Settlement will once more begin tota-ke place in various partaof the North Island. Hundredsof thousands of acres at present perfectly useless to anyone, producing nothing and bearing no taxation, will fall into the hands of those who will turn it to profitable account and who will bear their share of the taxation of the country. The Land Act Amendment Act and the Native Acts combined are calculated, in our opinion, to work a complete revolution in the settlement of the country. They do not profesa, however, to apply a heroic remedy. Ontbs contrary, they aim simply at removing restrictions. They have been framed with the express purpose of allowing the country to develop naturally. Short as the time has been since the Land Act came into operation it has already accomplished much; and before a year is over we have every confidence that the same will be able to be said of the Native Acts.