The Globe. SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1523, 4 January 1879, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1879.

The Government lias not been slow to take advantage of the powers delegated to it by the House in reference to obtaining a prohibitory right over the purchase of Native lauds. In the bustle and turmoil that was a characteristic of the close of last sesion, a hill was hurried through the Legislature, by which the Government are enabled by making a small payment to the alleged owners collectively or sevorally of any Maori laud to issue forthwith a proclamation of the fact, and thereby prevent private speculators from any further dealing with blocks so proclaimed. By the provisions of this Act a knot of speculators have recently been estopped in the purchase of au estate of 50,000 acres at Waitotara, and the Wanganui Herald is jubilant over the said speculator’s discomfiture. JEn passant it may be remarked that the Wanganui Herald is the property of Mr. Ballance, and when that gentleman joined the Cabinet ho brought his organ in with him, and has since kept it employed playing party tunes of the most pronounced tone, in return for which the working machiney of the organ aforesaid is kept well oiled with Government advertisements. At any rate, from the Herald wo learu that the purchase of a block of tho dimensions mentioned has been secured to the people of tho country, and then follows the usual refrain of what a groat, good, glorious Government it is to so watch over and protect the interests of tho people. This is all very well, hut before joining in the pa-an that our well subsidised contemporary warbles, it would bo as well to know what the Government intend to do with tho block they have rescued from the Auckland “ laud sharks.”

The Government by this power guard the interests o£ the people; but Quis custocliet, Who shall guard the Guards ? It seems that by a judicious use of the public funds the Ministry may now become large land monopolists, but it is also painfully apparent that there is no law to prevent them abusing their trust if they were so inclined. It is hard to see where the public benefit accrues if this laud is only taken from the white land sharks of Auckland, to bo subsequently transferred to the Grey land sharks of some other place, while as a political power this holding in trust of lauds to be disposed of almost without control is dangerous in the extreme. It is well known that the promise of a cheap esiaio will often turn an adverse vote, and transform an enemy to a friend, and a had or tottering Government might thus secure support to prolong a period of misrule. Of course wo do not” insinuate that the present party in power would secure friends by such base moans, and yet their past transactions axe not of a character to place them very high above suspicion. Their action in reference to the reclaimed land at W cllington, for instance, is sufficiently shady to begot doubts of their integrity of purpose in their dealings with the people they govern. This Wellington land was sold by the Ministry to the Goipotation —and more fitting purchasers could scarcely bo found, for the laud is situate in the heart of tho city—for the sum of one hundred and twenty thousand pounds; but finding that in a. purely pecuniary sense a bad bargain had been made. Lie House was manipulated so that it refused to ratify tho contract, and tho laiid reverted to tho control of honorable Ministers. As a condition precedent to taking the blame for this breach of faith oh; the

shoulders of tho contracting parties who had tho worst of tho deal, tho House insisted that tho Government should not soil tho land at all unless compelled so to do by financial difficulties tho reason for the stipulation being that it was a public estate, increasing in value year by year, as it undoubtedly is, Tho relieved Government agreed to the conditions and implicitly promised to abide by them, which they did until tho House was prorogued, but not a minute beyond, for tho members had not loft Wellington ore a favorite auctioneer was called in, and tho reclaimed land placed in his hands for sale, and sold it will bo during tho present mouth. Now in the face of such an illustration of how Governments may break faith, it may be rationally assumed that there is some danger in allowing the absolute control of the immense lauded estate of tho colony that may from time to time bo acquired of the Maories to vest in men who do not scruple to sacrifice all they have already obtained to servo their present purpose, and to adminster to the wants of the day, but apart from this it is imperative that tho functions of the government in their land transactions should bo clearly defined, and that it should be distinctly understood how the blocks that they now have power to purchase are really to bo disposed of. The capitalist also has a right to be protected in his honajide dealings with tho natives. Under tho existing arrangements tho crafty sou of tho soil may obtain large deposits on account from tho private speculator, and then by a timely appeal to the Government obtain further deposits, leaving the individual who has bought the prior right to obtain a refund of his advances if he can. This is not at all a satisfactory state of things, but rather one that calls for immediate alteration. Wo are second to none in our earnest desire to protect the interest of tho working man, or in our' aversion to land rings and monopolists, but it is essential to tho well, being of a country that all classes alike should bo protected by the law, and it will bo a dark day for New Zealand when the speculator is forced to seek in other lauds a field for the outlay of his capital, and this ho certainly will have to do if wo have Acts passed by an unscrupulous Government similar to that now in force in reference to tho purchase of Native lands.