NATIVE LAND SETTLEMENT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 272, 21 October 1912, Page 4

NATIVE LAND SETTLEMENT.

Since writing our editorial in hist issue, wc have had before us a fuller report of the discussion in the House on the clauses of the Land Laws Amendment Bill dealing with the settlement of native lands: As might have been expected from one who held Cabinet rank in the Native Department so long without doing anything of service to eitlmr race. Mr. Ngata’s attempts at cri-i cism prove to be wholly pessimistic and obstructive. Mr. Ngata himself signally failed to justify the position to which he was elevated by the late “Liberal” Administration, and indeed has at all times appeared to use such influence as he had in the direction of keeping the two races at arm’s length and of retarding any satisfactory solution of the all important question of settlement of native lands. As a member of that entirely abortive production of the Ward Ministry, the Stout-Ngata Commission, set up with the ostensible purpose of assisting to the desired end, he hftd no practical proposal to make, and now he comes forward as the declared advocate ot the “Taihoa” policy. In this role he professes to belittle (ho proposals now made, by asserting that they are merely a revival of “Liberal measures which had failed ot their purpose. In this, as might also bare been expected. Mr. Ngata is stretch ing the truth very considerably, for by no previous legislation that h;-..-> reached the Statute Book have such facilities been given as are now afforded the native race of dealing freely, directly and openly with the. large body of Eurepix’.n linJ seekers. It may be well, too, to emphasise the point that under the new condtitions of administration we may rely on the measures being applied with some degree of sincere energy, and that, they will not be allowed to become mere deadlet i cis to the great advantage of astute speculators ami ravenous agents of both colours. That depreciation and opposition will come from these sections of the community we may be well assured, but if rigorous step*- :ui- taken to disseminate the knowledge of the privileges now accorded to natives, wo think it mav be confidently hoped that some sub stantial measure of success may be achieved. It cannot, of course, be expected that this will be attained without the expenditure of considerable effort and the lapse of some little time, and much will depend upon the officials of the department making full use of their many opportunities to fully apprise the natives with whom they come in contact of the improved conditions. The Maori Land Boards could do much in this way. and it might be of considerable moment to improve the status of their members. At present the remuneration they receive is entirely inadequate to the responsibilities ami temptations of their position, and it is scarcely t<> be hoped that men entirely qualified for their duties should be got at the miserable pittance of salary at present allotted to them. We wish to insinuate nothing against the integrity and reliability of the present members of the boards, but wc do most decidedly think that something should bo done to stimulate their intelligent interest in promoting the new method'- now proposed. As things now are they can be expected to have none but the most perfunctory interest in carrying out, their bare duties. We are by no means under any delusion as to the perfection of the new laws, but clean administration of them will lead to beneficial suggestion and development by the light of experience. It is something to have made a commencement giving promise of. better things.