THE DOMINION'S INCUBUSNATIVE LANDS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 343, 8 March 1911, Page 6

THE DOMINION'S INCUBUSNATIVE LANDS.

To the Editor. Sir, —Would you be good enough to again draw attention to this foremost and most important question of the day. Last month a meeting of the Aria Settlers' Association was held, and, amongst other questions, the one of native lands was discussed, and a resolution passed asking the Government to at once purchase all native lands served by and benefitted by a certain road-—which the settlers were anxious to metal —and to dispose of the said lands to rate-paying settlers, who would assist their neighbours in contributing towards the necessary funds. A reply has now been received from the office of the Minister of Lands in which it is stated that under certain clauses of the Native Land Act the Crown cannot purchase native lands unless requested to do so by a resolution passed by the assembled owners. Did anoyne ever hear of such an idioti". Act being passed by a sane body of legislators whereby they tie their own liands, and effectually prevent themselves from carrying out their duties to the country, for which they were elected to the honourable positions they now hold? Unoccupied native lands in this district are the great hindrance to the advancement of this country, for they pay no rates, and they are seed beds for all noxious weeds, which are spread broadcast over the newlycleared and burned sections of the settlers, when they are just in the condition to receive seeds of any kind, good or bad, that is in March and April. There is another evil in connection with this matter. Some of these native lands are leased to Europeans, who pay no rates, neither do they improve them, but just sit down and smilo at their neighbours improving their holdings and metalling the roads, helping to increase the value of these leases. Again, some of these leases are of considerable size, say up to 2000 acres, covered with standing bush, and settlers ali over the district are losing stock, and where do they go? It is shrewdly surmised that many may be on these bush sections, and the increase in the way of young stock becomes the property of the lessee and possibly the original v;andcrer3 also. The question of native lands has been a problem in the past, that has never been soundly grasped by our legislators. It is bristling with knotty points, and is becoming more acute every year, and should be —and must be —settled once arid for all by the Crown acquiring the whole of the native lands in the Dominion. Borrow ten, or twenty millions, if necessary, and acquire the lot, and that at once, or in a short time neither Maori nor pakeha will own it. Get the country settled by British subjects. There are thousands of the very best or settlors, that is, sons and daughters of the pioneers and their descendants. Thousands of them can be seen at tno schools, running about bare legged and bare headed, real sturdy specimens of the race that builds up Empires, and in the country these children gu for miles to school. One instance "here is of three boys who walk eleven miles a day--live and a-half there and back — the oldest of whom is eight years and the youngest five years, and these bring in the cows and help to milk. The i'avins are about 200 acres, sufficient for one family, but when these children grow up what is to become of them? One farm will not support the lot, and they will want to make homes for themselves and do as their honoured fathers have done: rear strong, ; healthy, honest British subjects to strengthen the Empire- ruled by our j beloved George V. Every year thousands of these children are compelled to leave homes to seek a living elsewhere. And yet our short-sighted Government are importing immigrants, who are quite unfit to get out on to the land and carve cut homes for themselves and make waste lands productive and rate-paying. Spend this money wasted on immigration in buying up native lands and give these young people a chance to settle in the land of their birth. No other country in the world would tolerate the blockto settlement we have in these indiotic native land laws. It is not the fault of the natives, but of ourselves that such a state of things exist. The only solution is for the Crown to ac-

quire the whole of the native lands, pay the full interest monthly on some such lines as the Old age Tension is paid now, allow them sufficient to live on, and the problem of native lane's is done with once and for all, and the country will soon become settled with British subjects,_ who in a few years will be in a position to hold their own against all-comers. I would ask every County Council, every Settlers' Association, and every individual to take this matter up for the safety and well-being of their homes and families, and return men to Parliament who will honestly endeavour to remove the incubus resting upon the progress ot* the Dominon. — I am, etc., TAIHOAITL