THE PARIHAKA BLOCK.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 93, 5 March 1881, Page 2

THE PARIHAKA BLOCK.

The question — What shall be done with the Parihaka land, which did not sell ?—? — is now occupying the attention of the authorities. It is, we believe, quite on the cards that the suggestion made in the Stak, that the whole block shall be offered on deferred payments, will be adopted ; residence being compulsory, as it occupies a different position to the Bush land. We are strongly of opinion that it is a mistake to locate a number of impecunious fanners on the land. Especially is it a mistake to do so when the land is keenly competed for, and, in consequence, would-be settlers cripple their resources by bidding high prices, with the result that they find it diifioult

to make the progress payments and a bare living. But where settlement is much needed, as in this case, and where the inducements offered have hitherto failed to attract settlers, the case is different. Besides, so far as we can learn, the deferred payment land taken up on the Wairaate Plains has, in most cases, fallen into the hands of men with sufficient capital to work their farms at a profit. Mr. Pearson, the Commissioner of Crown Lands in Southland, has laid it down as a maxim, which his experience has established, that a deferred payment land selector need, at least, from £300 to £400 in hand before he can take up a farm with any prospect of n reasonable return on his lsbor and investment. Wherever it appears that the bulk of the land falls into the hands of this class of farmer, the objections vanish, which are often urged against establishing a class of settlers who will starve their land, become debtors to the State, and a source of "political danger and difficulty. It seems as if the mere fact that the land on this coast is not readily convertible into mere grain-growing land, tends to restrict the number of selectors, and to lessen, if not remove, a danger which is said to have proved nearly fatal to the system, both in Victoria and in some parts of New Zealand. With a full knowledge of the objections to the deferred payment system befox*e us, the arguments in favor of extending it in the direction indicated, both at Parihaka, and in the bush land, seem to warrant its extension.

[Since the above was put in type, we have been given to understand that there is still some danger of the Parihaka Block falling into the hands of a few Wealthy men. We would suggest that public meetings should be held at Hawera, New Plymouth, and Patea, for the purpose of giving expression to the wishes of the settlers on this coast. The question is one of vital importance. Three or four hundred people, located on the Parihaka block, would give more confidence than, an equal number of the Armed Constabulary, stationed either at Cape Egmont or Pungarehu. The Minister for Lands is, we feel assured, keenly alive to the urgent necessity of putting people, rather 'than cattle, on that block, and has, we believe, already expressed himself to that effect. In the interests of the public, and for the purpose of securing the peaceful occupation of this coast, it is to be hoped that he will not allow himself to be influenced, or his opinions changed, by those who have only their own personal interests to serve. We do not blame the latter. But the public weal must be the primary consideration with a Minister of the Crown, and it is satisfactory to know that Mr. Rolleston, both in the House and outside of it, has often given expression to similar views. That he will act honorably and conscientiously, we have not much doubt. But we have been informed that some members of what is known in New Plymouth as the " land ring " will endeavor to bring pressure to bear upon him, and we therefore think it desirable that the opinions of the people, from Patea to New Plymouth, should be communicated to him. As to what those opinions would be, we have not the Jeast doubt that the gist would be found in the following words : " Settle as many families as can be comfortably located on the Parihaka Block."]