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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6023, 13 December 1890, Page 2

Tiik Australaajan saya of Mr Ballanco that ho has fads enough on tho land question to ruin several colonios. Our Melbourne contemporary might, have added that his whole political plutform is made up of a ruiiss of fads. He h«£ lately hinted to a representative of the New Zealand Times that he has evolved another scheme to securo ij| soUloment of native lands. He is thus reported :— " The settlenleut of native lands is atjpresent at a perfect standstill, notwithstanding what has been dope, with , freetrade legislation, '. and it is propablo that proposals of? a very important nature would bo submitted by a ! now Ministry. It is essential that in any changes thp nativos should acquiesce. I have a plan by which I think tho greater portion of the lands could bo brought within the area of Jettlement in a short epacib of time .wjthout allpwinp' them to fall iuto ttie hands of a few people. Ido not say it is at present, becanso this is not the proper tima to divulge it." We have no doubt that when it is divulged it will prove * a *mbfft' ! wonderful plan. If tlie greater portion of thirteen millions of aeras in the possession of the Maoris can bo brought within tho area of settlement in a short space of time, what may we not hope from Mr Ballanco in the sottlonipnt of tho liin'is in tho hands of Crown ? Would it njt bo as well if ho undertook tho lesser york beforo tackling the greater? It is fortunate that Mr Ballanco recognises the rijht of the natives to their Jande in so far that it is essential to the success of hia schone that they should acquiesce in tho propoied changes. Wo do ndt want another Maori war; and we do not thibk Mr Roea'a little plan in respect of native land sottlomenton tho East Cxist is a good pattern. We a - e afraid that without solid cash and plenty »f it the Maoris will not fall in with this tte latest fad from Mr Ballanco's active- brail.