A BURIED TALENT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 58, 4 March 1909, Page 4

A BURIED TALENT.

Land, land, land 1 Land for settlement, land at a 'reasonable price, is the chief solution of the unemployed problem, and the main way out_ot any coming financial difficulties. Ihe more settlement,,the more producers, the more produceiis the more revenue, and the smaller the burden of taxation upon the general taxpayer. lo buy up big estates, under the Lands for Settlement laws, is gcod only when the land can be secured at such a reasonable price as will enable the State to charge a -reasonable rent. Prior to the recent amendment of the law in this respect, the large landholder, who was apt to squeak about the Government valuation (for taxing purposes) as .ridiculously high, immediately t turned round and opened bis mouth so wide that no business could be done, save by the compulsory process, which was vexatious, complicated and costly. But now such land is taken at the owner's -valuation' for taxation purposes, plus a percentage. This simplifies' 'the process, and enables the Government "to obtain land under much cheaper conditions, though iffc may still be very dear to the settler. But in the North Island there are many hundreds of thousands of acres of land now practically lying waste, untilled, unefocked— a, buried talent— which only awaits European .settlement and cultivation to pirovide homes for thousands of settlers, to produce wool, grain, 'flax and other produce, the sale of: which would immensely increase the national • wealth. Indirectly hew avenues of employment would be opened up, and more chances given to young New Zealandens to take up country life and found1 homes for themselves, their wives aaid children. When are we to see a real, tangible proof given of the eairneistness and capacity of the Government with regard to this 'question? We have hoped much from the operations of the Stout Land Commission. Great iresults have been predicted, but so far we have had to be content with promises and predictions. If it be really true that Mr Carroll and Mr Ngata have been successful in obtaining two blocks, totalling 5500 acres, in. €he North Auckand district for European occupation; all the better. The .further news "that two big blocks in the' King Countery atre to be purchased and subdivided for eettlem'en't, and that a further wea. of 50,000 acres in, the Urewera Country is to be surveyed, will - be' 'hailed with; pleasure. But it is :pb new thing for these •promises ofactiviifcy to be niaderThey have' been ttiade so often before, and yet nothing-yorJ very little—has been the practical result. Everyone; who has ever had anything to do with negotiationis for/the purchase or leasing of native . land will admit that such: negotiations are a terribly slow job. The "iaihoa" principle is firmly embedded in the native heart and mind. But when the "fcaihoa" policy is found: to' be blocking' settlement, retarding and impeding^national prosperity; it should be forced aside. More land' is the only tirue settlement of many of our difficulties, and the time has come when a strongly expressed public sentdmexiit should force the Government int<>' a greatly accelerated speed of action in the acquirement and subdivision of native land® now lying either wholly or partially unoccupied and/,:- unused. The talent should,.be dug up,without delay and put to profitable use. Otherwise, by taxation or by some other means, the tale ; nt must be taken away from its indifferent owner. Some day Parliament will wake up in real earnest to the gravity of ,the position,- and insist upon native lands being either used by the- .owners, m being leased or sold to those who can, and will use them. Unless, within the next, ten years, we can get a very largely increased number of men on> th© land the burden .of our ever-increasing debt, already:-, .seriously heavy, must become positively intolerable. Therefore, the heartiest satisfaction will be felt at the ne,ws from the north that the two native representatives injthe Cabinet are jworking for the opening up to European settlement of several large blocks^ The first and laudable decision to ; proceed in the" matter will,. it, is .to be hoped, be succeeded by energetic .action in the way of surveying. Words must be followed by deeds. .;•