THE FUTURE ACQUISITION OF NATIVE LANDS

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 5, Issue 234, 26 November 1861, Page 3

THE FUTURE ACQUISITION OF NATIVE LANDS

(Prom the Southern Cross.)

ConsidebAble changes are being made in one of he most important of the government departments —namely, the Native Land Purchase office. Ifc is generally rumoured that the Chief Commissioner will shortly pay a visit to the old country on leave of absence — a leave which the state of the country has prevented him from taking hitherto. Mr. McLean's career is too well known to call for comment in these colonies. For fifteen years he has been at the head of his department, and during all that time, whenever personal influence was to be brought to bear upon the native, has proved himself equal to every emergency. Indefatigible, possessed of great persuasive powers, ever patient and cool in discussion, and perfectly acquainted with the Native character, he has been for years a host in himself, and perhaps done more than any other man to keep peace in New Zealand, and preserve good feeling between European and Native. Of course his general policy has not remained without opponents, and many new lights have risen up and denounced it of late years, but it is remarkable that those best acquainted with the early struggles of the colony appreciate most highly what he has done. True they see in common with ourselves and many others that a modification of that policy has become necessary under the altered circumstances of the present time, but they forget to whom, to a great extent, these altered circumstances are owing. That the country has in so many quarters been peacefully colonized, that until lately a strong desire to -see Europeans settle in Native districts existed amongst the Natives, is owing much to the temperate and conciliatory manner in which Mr. McLean has always endeavoured to deal with them, not simply as Land Commissioner, but rather as the political agent of the Crown. What will be the sew system adopted in New Zealand, in reference to the Natives, it is not easy even to conjecture, but that there will be a change few doubt.

For our own part we have long advocated a change in the land purchase system, and believe that a period has now arrived when it may be made with advantage. Before the late war it was never insisted upon with the Maori that he owed allegiance to Her Majesty, irrespective of his own peculiar fancies upon the subject, and there were reasons why the duty should not be insisted upon too strongly. We had not the power of enforcing obedience : but times have changed since, and what was expedient a few years back would be a suicidal policy at present. But, at the same time that we insist on unconditional recognition of the rights of the Crown, we are called upon, in equity, to recognize the rights of British subjects, and take steps for placing the Native holder of land in the same position as other British subjects. We have called attention to this subject on several occasions in our columns and shall continue ta insist upon it. Nothing can so strengthen the hands of the present Government with the Natives as a recognition on our part of a desire to deal in a spirit of justice with them, and, coming from a strong Government like the present, any intimation of such intention will carry with it extraordinary weight.We trust soon to see the market thrown open to Natives holding land on Native tenure, and whether the system of private negotiation or that of public auction be adopted— the principle in both cases being the same — we believe that much will have been gained and the probability of a peaceful adjustment of present difficulties considerably augmented.

Daring the last year we have read in many English periodicals, led, unwittingly, we believe, to take an unjust view of New Zealand colonists, bitter structures on those anxious to acquire the land of the Natives. In some quarters eren the blame of the late Taranaki war has been laid at their door. The desire to acquire land still exists, and is as strong as ever ; and we can assure our English friends that in our opinion nothing but the introduction of a well-regulated system of acquiring lands will prevent the recurrence of any such unfortunate collisions for the future. But the system must be well regulated. Our missionary commentators at home have, in many of their writings, kid great stress on the fact of missionaries living quietly amongst the Natives, and deplored the subsequent arrival of the colonist to mar the happy scene. Apart, however, from the influence exercised by the sacred character of the missionary, we may mention that he has ge« nerally been a direct purchaser of land from the Natives, and in so far lias been looked upon much in the same light as the well abused Pakeha Maori, and much of his power may be attributed to the same causes as those which have caused old settlers in troublous times to be looked up to by the Natives, as advisers, and by the Government as trustworthy friends. The Maori race is only to be preserved by introducing into every part of the country a class of flourishing European farmers who may set it an example of industry, and teach it practical lessons in European civilization, and this can never be done if we are to confine ourselves to the occupation of such land as Natives in want of money may be induced to sell to Government irrespective of who is to occupy it when sold? Such a system would gradually drive the> Nafciveß back to their own valuable reserves, which they would never have an opportunity of learning how to cultivate properly, and which they would at last be forced to bring into the market in order to realise the means of bare subsistence. Taking for granted, as one safely may, that the European race will gradually spread over the country, and do so notwithstanding all opposition, the present system of locating them far from the Natives must inevitably lead at last to the latter dying out. The transition state in which they at present are, is a most dangerous one to prolong, and if they are left to herd together, they will never go beyond it. They must either be wholly civilized, or they will disappear from the face of the earth, a contingency which we are sure our missionary friends would aot wish to contemplate.