Page 6 Advertisements Column 1

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 47, 23 November 1909, Page 6

"How any Government can bo so insane as to deliberately juggle with such a vital question as tho .settlement of wasta lands is beyond comprehension (writes a correspondent of I,lie 'Dominion 1 ). We have an Administration who deliberately lock up our waste lands; who, by every device in their power, place obstacles in the way of settlers obtaining the idle and waste lands of the Maori, compelling the struggling settler to either leave the country or accept outrageous leasehold conditions imposed by the Maori Land Boards. The (Government denounce tho European land-owners as a pest and parasite. Yet we find them strenuously assisting the aboriginals to build up a huge native landlo rdry. 'Hie white man at least pays for the labor that-is required to bring the, waste lands into cultivation, but tho Maori has an easier method. Ho gets his bonded slave in the person of the struggling settlor to pay him a stiff rent for the privilege of being allowed to improve tho native holding. What description of statesmanship can we call this? How much longer will tho country have to wait for a vigorous and progressive land settlement policy? Is it to bo a question of years or of months? This question is worthy to take precedence of labor Bills, unemployment insurance, national pensions," and all other redherring legislation." _ There were omplo.ved on th-n co-opora-tivo works in New Zealand during September 5117 artisans and laborers. Sixty-eight were employed on tho Law-rence-Roxburgh line, 58 on the OrepukiWaian line, 91 on the Waimahaka end on the Catlins line 487 on the Oatlins end, and 101 on the RivorsdakSwitzors buildings. Forty-eight men wero engaged ou the Otago toads district