THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 1909 MR CARROLL AND THE NATIVE QUESTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 178, 2 August 1909, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 1909 MR CARROLL AND THE NATIVE QUESTION.

THE visit of the Hon. J. Carroll to the King Country is particularly opportune in view of the fact that Native legislation on somewhat comprehensive lines is foreshadowed for the coming session of Parliament. In his speech at Papawai last week the Act-ing-Premier made clear his attitude on the question generally. By reducing the issue with regard to Native lands to the question of "who is to use the land, and upon what terms?" Mr Carroll simplifies his own position, but to the Dominion as a whole the issue stated pales into insignificance beside the all important question of the prompt settlement of all unused lands. That the broader question is plainly apparent to the Minister is evident from the fact that be realises that any lands reserved for Native owners which are not utilised reasonably must, in consequence of the pressure of settlement, inevitably be absorbed in the general march of porgress, and handed over to those best fitted to make them productive to the State. Mr Carroll's concern that the Natives should be helped toward) fitness for the task of utilising their own lands will doubtless be shared by all who recognise that on the country rests a great moral responsibility wi(h regarci to the Maori race. That responsibility has always been recognised by our legislators in a nebulous kind of way, and the simple expedient of placing restrictions on Native-owned land is an exampe of the extraordinary manner in which the responsibility has been met. The common cry that had the restrictions, as to sale, not been placed on the land the Maoris would have been landless, may be true, but the mere locking up of the lands without taking steps to make the owners, either in ten, twenty, or a hundred years, capable of utilising those lands, was such a monumental piece of foolishness as to be beyond ordinary comprehension. The years upon years of drift witb regard to the question have but served to render the situation more difficult to deal witb, while the rcstrictoins have been eating into the character of the race, and sapping it of the self-reliance and initiative, without which success on the land, or in any other walk of life cannot be attained. Whatever attitude of mind possessed the Minister in the past, his recent utterances clearly indicate his thorough knowledge of the necessities of the present, and of the future. Without barking back to the useless "might have been" it is sufficient to say that if Mr Carroll acts upon the lines laid down in his recent speech, and acta promptly, he wili receive widespread and loyal assistance frc>:;; all who understand the situation, :u.d possess an earnest and intelligent desire to see the great Native Question, placed in a position to achieve finality

or, a just and equitable basis. In our own district we are intimately con- j corned, and apart from any selfish or | paorchial sentiment, there is little j doubt that Mr Carroll's visit wii! Lc beneficial. There are questions to be asked and answered, and positions defined on subjects concerning which the Native Minister is the supreme authority. The subjects are those, moreover, to which public attention is being turned with an earnestness and singleness of purpose hitherto unknown. Nobody knows better than the Acting Prime Minister that the question has reached an acute stage, and is up for definite settlement, with public opinion a; sole arbiter,in the interests of public welfare the welfare of European and Maori alike. Upon the Native Minister has devolved a great charge. That the Minister is capable of rising to the occasion is indicated by his recent speech, and if comprehensive and statesmanlike measures, carrying with them the solid proof of a satisfactory objective, be undertaken, the Minister will have earned the lasting gratitude of both races.