WHAT BLOCKS PROGRESS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15016, 10 July 1914, Page 7

WHAT BLOCKS PROGRESS.

NATIVE LAND DEALINGS. THE "TAIHOA" POLICY. (SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON, July 0In a reference to native land matters in tho House to-night, Mr C. K. Wilson stated that during the Liberal rogimo transactions had been sanctioned by Native Land Boards allowing people to acquire areas of land four times as great as the law allowed. Mr W. D. S. Mac Donald: That is not correct. Mr Wilson said that if an enquiry were made into dealings in native lands during tho three years betore the present Government canio into office, the rovelations would be surprising. Land had been purchased, in some cases through tho Native Land Boards, and within twenty-four hours the purchasers had sold again at ranging up to £52 5s an acre for tho goodwill. They had been told about tho present Government robbing tho Natives of their lands, but what tho Government had done was to put a stop to the practices of the speculators. The Government had taken tho power away from the private speculators, and Sad taken to itself tho preemptive right of purchase to which it was entitled under the Treaty of Waitangi. The present Government would do every justice to the "Maoris, but tho country would not go back to tho "Taihoa" policy. Ho mentioned a place on the Main Trunk lino where level land was wanted for township purposes, but whero the Native owners were asking £200 an acre. That price would willingly bo paid if a good title could bo obtained, but hero thero was the usual difficulty. That was what blocked progress.