NATIVE LANDS,

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 498, 4 May 1909, Page 7

NATIVE LANDS,

■ ■ i< ~"A-MOST LAMENTABLE WASTE." ' .'■:, (BI COEBBSJONDINT.)■ £:U : -:X'--'v ; \:\' '' 'V' : - Auckland, May 3.• jThe.'Hon.; A., W. Hogg 'has beei speaking his mind on the Native Land question. :'\ "As :r" went "through;: tho various districts,'? Mr. s Hogg said to a "Herald" r&- : prbsentative' on Saturday night, '. 'I could not help: reflecting, ;.as ;in;. the case of.' thi King Country, that, it was a most, lamentable waste that so'^much-'rich 1 land k now.lying rinnsed on every, hand. The oxieiisivo tracts of. Native lands which are now, producing nothing ought to be placed as soon as possible in r the: hands,: of peoplo who; will make thorn "■productive.'. In many of the districts that!:l .visited,. the,'local bodies 'complained tome tliat they cannot, construct the. necesae they' are . unable to "collect rates upon the great bulk of I'the land within : tljfiir boundaries, "owing to' it. being Uio property-of Natives." >■:■,."-.' ; '-,"■■■ .: . ; .The serious: extent to' which .the. finances of ]ihe: Kaglaii County Council ;. havo been affected.by tho cause referred to was pointed ,ouf to Mr. Hogg....'-,. ■ .. ~. :: ~:..-,.., .; , , "Yes," he replied, "I was apprised of tho position' in that county' , by tho chairman: of the coiinqil, but tho complaint 'to, be nniversal in' all, the":'.counties^'containing large 1 areas•-of.'.Native lands. - It' is stated that •if '.roads, •■ and bridges -aro constructed in; these- districts,,. it Mnusfc , ..naturally.'.' havo .the.eiFect of 'bumpingj up' the value of Nativo 'lands', and : it! is complained that it ia':most' , .unfair- that, the European Settlers who iiaveishown'sufficient enterprise to take up land'.in.jthoßedistricts, should bo heavily rat^' : for such ;works,-whilst the -Native who derive an equal benefit, aro al-' lowed to'escape.'a' share of the burden. ' 1 think that,- before i'any, large sums of money aro expended on roads and bridges in these districts, an effort, should be made; by the tiovernment" to' secure' as. much'of the land as v.possjblo ■ for settlement, - : in. order tbjit ,the properties may , bear the .cost ' of.'• -the works."' .; ■ -..';,.V\ ' '■ .'■','■'. •"' ~ ■'. < v : ;" ; "\ ";