The Star.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9302, 19 March 1907, Page 4

The Star.

DeHvßred every evening by o'clook in H&weu Manaift, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, MangaioW, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake. Otokeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hnrleyville, Pate», and

TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 1907.

THE NATIVE LAND COMMISSION.

'ihe visit the Native Minister recently paid to this district was in a measure to pave the way for' the coming Commission, which is expected to shortly tackle the- .native problem as it presents itself in Taranakd. In the course of a few days Wangaorai will be reached, and as greater interest will be developed as the Commission approaoliee it may be an opportune moment to notice th« scope of the work entrusted to it. which is as follows: —

1. What area of native lands there are which are unoccupied or not profitably occupied, the owners of these, and if in theix opinion necessary, the nature of such owners' titles and the interest affecting saame.

2. How can such lands best be utilised and settied in the interest of the native Owners and the public good. 3. What areas, if any, of such Jands could or shculd be set apart. (a) IV>r the individual occupation of the native owners and for purposes of cul thataon and farming. (b) As communal lands for th© purposes of the native owners as- a body, bribe or village.

(c) For future occupation by the descendants or successors of the native owners 1 , and how such, land can in the n'*antime bo properly and profitably used. '

(d) For settlement by other natives than the native owners, and on what terms and conditions, by what modes of disposition. '

(o) For settlement by Europeans, or what terms, and conditions, in what areas and "with, what safeguards to prevent the subsequent aggregation of such areas in European hands.

Further to report as to — 4. How the 1 existing institution established amongst natives, and the existing systems of dealing -with native lands, can best be utilised or adapted for the purposes aforesaid, and to what extent or in what, manner they should be modified, and to make such suggestions and v.oomman- , dations as they may now consider desir- i able or necessary. F/rom the above it will be seen that the Commission's power of recommendation is very wide, but as Sir Robert Stout points out after the Commission has said what it thinks- ought to be done it will remain for Parliament to say -what shall be done. J Apparently the work of the Commission i has begum very auspiciously, for in Teply to a question as to the view the natives | take of the work in hand the Chief Joibtace said : "They seem to be very friendly indeed, and 1 appear very anxious to have, some one to settle the matter for them, and get it ended. There has been no;J sign of 'umfriendilineßs manifested, and they seem very kindly disposed ellthrough. Wherever- we have met the 1 natives, they seem desirous' of meetingthe Commission, aind' they are very fair a<nd reasonable. That has been our experience with the people at Mohaka, Wairoa, Nrahaka, and Hawke'e' Bay. The natives are not the land' monopoJisers. The Europeans are the ones with the large blocks. In fhe districts wshich we have been through the blocks the natives have arft not sufficient, with what they have offered to lease, to maintain themselves, if they wish to become farm>?:re. Whether they are to become tamers 1 or not is important, and' I have told them that if they do not become farmers the race will be destroyed, and if this happens, it will not be credaitiable to the people of New Zealand. I see a- chance of settling many hundreds of thousands of" acres," con-< tinned His Honor, "and I have no doubt the thing can be settiled if Parliament gives us* the power aoad approves of our. views. We will have a report Tieady for the nest session, and I do not think the '

work of the CommiissioD will extend to anything like the three years, as suggested when it was formed. Our report will set out what has been done, and give details of what can be done. Of course it depends entirely on the attitude of the natives ,and their willingness to fall in with us. The natives we have met so far have beien very reasonable. What they ask is .not extravagant. If you discuss the matter with t»-»n, theie is no difficnlty in bringing them <to a reasonable conclusion." This much must be said, that the work has been begun amongst perhaps the most contented and indtustrioui native in the Island. ■ His Honor said he was charmed with the natives of Ntihoka and what they were doing. They had earned' .about £2000 already for butter fat thae season. Working under great disadvantages and difficulties, they had dono wonders, and appeared to be a very hard■workiing, intelligent set of people. When they got proper titles to their lands, so thafc each native would know which was his own piece, His Honor had no doubt that they would become expert dairy farmers. The natives were to be seen regularly at an early hour in the morning taking their milk to the factory, and seemed much initersstedi in, their work. That is- a big step in adivance' of the conditions on this coast, although it is eatdsfaotoxyto be able to say that in Taaanaki aileo marked progress is being made in 'individual cases. Still there remains room for much improvement. Industrious and thrifty natives continue to be exceptions, but with the removad of influences which have done so much to 'retard them 1 , and the development of the industrial sentiment amongst the "young Maori party," there is hope that before Jong this distorwt will witness en advance corresponding to that wfuch has for so Hong been a matter for congratulation on the East Coast.