THE LAND QUESTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14167, 15 September 1906, Page 6

THE LAND QUESTION.

NATIVE AREAS AVAILABLE FOR ' SETTLEMENT. -v , DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE • COUNCIL. MR ORMOND’S VIEWS. “ A COLD-BLOODED AND MONSTROUS PROPOSAL.” [From Ora Cobhespondbnt.] WELLINGTON, September 14. Quite unexpectedly the land question was debated in the Legislative Council this afternoon. The Hon J. D. Ormond moved —“ That in view of proper consideration of the measures promised by the Government for dealing with the native waste lands in the colony it was essential to have the return of niative [and recently submitted to the Council supplemented with such information as would inform Parliament of what blocks of a thousand acres and over: described in the return were unoccupied or waste.” Mr Ormond then launched out into a general survey of the-land question. Ho survived a point of order raised by the Hon George JonenTthat he was not within his rights in discussing the land proposals of the Government at 1 this stage, - and then went on to contend that there was a much larger area of land shown to be available in' the return than had been accounted for by the Minister of Liinds in ■ his , recent speech. The perpetual lease was a mistake, and it could not be'expected that holders’ of such leases would give up their rights for anything but freehold. If the £50,000 limit waa insisted on, and the 1000 acres fint-claas and 5000 acres second-class land made to form the basis of the future maximum holding, it would he found that capitalists only would he able to settle bn the land. He discussed tH© various aspects of the Governments policy at length, and declared that in the main it-was the meet cold-blooded and „ monstrous proposal ever submitted to a. legislature. The Attorney-General interrupted to ask if the honourable member was not trespassing the Standing Orders in diseasing the general policy of the Government on a motion such as he had moved. N ■■ ■ • The Speaker said a good deal of latitude was required to have the subject discussed intelligently, but h© thought Mr Ormond was exceeding that latitude. t Being baulked in this direction Mr Ormond said he was debarred from giving expression to all ho intended' to ■ay, but it was clear that the Land for Settlements policy waa not to he pushed, and that the native lands were the only lands available for the poor man to settle on; He would, however, have the subject discussed in another way. He would not wait for the Land Bill, hut would bring up a motion on the subject, and have it discussed in this way. Auckland was the district moist keenly interested in the native land question. ; The return presented to the Council showed that there were 7,447,000 acres of native lands, and of this area ho judged that two million acres were either occupied by natives or let by them to Europeans. This, he considered, a very liberal estimate. Another-million would ha required to make provision for,the natives for all time. This'" meant that there was an wea of 4,447,000 acres left available for settlement. He contrasted this estimate with the statement of the Native Minister that only half a million acres of native land would he available for settlement, and condemned the administration, of the Native Department.. If anything was to be accomplished in the future there would have to be much more vigorous administration of the Native Department. The great bulk of the native land in the North Island was at the present time, absolutely inaccessible. Sojne of it had magnificent forests, but it could not be expected that the satives would do anything with it. He urged that the Native Land Courts should > ait and determine what lands the native* could properly cultivate, and what, was inquired for their immediate needs and those of their deand the balance should he thrown open ■ for settlement. The dream of the Native Minister was that these lands ‘ should go to build up a vast Maori landlordism in this country. This would be' to the absolute detriment and ruin of the native race. The true policy for the country in regard to native lands was the one he had sketched. The Courts should do their duty. Hq did not believe, however, that the people would go into the back country to tame these wildernesses unless they had some stimulus, in the shape of the freehold, held out to them. (A. Voice: " No.”) Within the next few years, he'believed, it would be possible to have twenty or thirty thousand people settled on these wastes. He know something of the settlement of this class of land. By judicious settlement end capable administration, a great deal could be done. The present condition of things should not be allowed to continue. • The Hon T. Kelly seconded the motion. He said that the colony could Dot much longer tolerate millions of scree of Crown lands to lie idle, while its young men were hunting for land. People bad to live by work, and it seemed anything hut just l that the white population should go on toiling while the native lived in- luxurious idleness. ,Tha native waste land in the North Island was nearly one-half the total urea. ■■■,-,■ tThe Hon W. C. F. Carncrcss: A great part of it is useless; mountain tope, eto. The Hoh J. E. Jenkinson: Yes. Half of it is useless. i« The Hon T. Kennedy Macdonald: There are millions of acres fit for settlement. - The Hon T. Kelly asked the Council to consider what it would mean to the country if even three million, acres of native land wore thrown open for settlement. The productiveness of the country would be increased to an enormous extent. At this stage the debate was interrupted by the Hon T. K. Macdonald, who moved that it should be adjourned -Until- Tuesday next. This suggestion was agreed to on the voices. .The Lands Committee mil meet to oonaider the Land . Bill on Tuesdaynext. and will probably meet daily during the week. The Minister of Lands will probably make an effort to get the Bill through the committee by the end of the week, and the second reading

would then be moved by the Hon R. M’Nab on the following Tuesday. The ' debate on the second reading is hardly likely to bo concluded under a fortnight, as it is almost certain that ©very member will desire to express his views. [Per Press Association.] • AUCKLAND, September 14. At a meeting of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, a resolution was carried in favour of selectors being given an opportunity of acquiring the freehold. ENGLISH NEWSPAPER COMMENT. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, September 14. The “Manchester Guardian” declares that Sir Joseph Ward’s Land Bill ought to confirm New Zealand’s lead in wealth and social prosperity.