A LOCKED-UP DISTRICT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9186, Issue 9186, 9 April 1910, Page 2

A LOCKED-UP DISTRICT.

THE BAY OF PLENTY. INTERVIEW WITH MR. E. NEWMAN, M.P. \ Thirty years ago Mr E. Newman, M.P. for Manawatu, came out to New Zealand, and settled for a while in tho Katikati district, in the Bay of Plenty. Ho has now concluded a trip through that part of the country, and also tho Rotorua district, and speaking to an Auckland Herald representative upon his impressions of the country, he eaicl that what appealed to him most strongly was the deplorable fact of the land lying unproductive at a timo when good settler* wore leaving our shores, because thev could not got Crown land to settle on. During his trip to tho Bay .of Plenty, Mr Newman visited his okj district of Katikati, and he believes that no other part of New Zealand has suffered eo much from tho apathy of tho Government in regard to tho settlement of native lands. "One can travel for miles between Tauranga and Rotorua," ho said, "without seeing either cattle or sheep, and it is. not worthless country. Most of it is light land, but it grows clover well, and if cleaned and laid clown with suitable

<n-as=ee would carry stock, especially store cattle. If after reserving sufficient ana for the native owners to farm., tins lana were surveyed into suitable fif'oriß, u-nci placed on the market oft ft lease, with the right 01 purchase tenure, in a short time this vuii; district would become a hive of industry. But no tenure without a right of purchase will secure the settlement and improvement of much of the second-class country." Mr Newman was pleased to observe that in some parts the Maoris had started/ to get their land into grass, and at orio place near Te Puke ho saw three teams of horses at work, all handled by natives. "The Maoris in the country districts,,, ho said, "are in many cases willing to work if the Government would only individiualiee their title .so that they can know their own lanci. If the progress that has been made daring the past 30 years is to be taken as an indication of what the Government can do in this direction, it is a poor look out for the future. Perhaps, after the railwavs" which arc now being pushed through are fairly located, and the land

thus increased in value, the Government will .proceed to acquire blocks for European -settlement." Mr JSJcwman thinks that the native lands, .after making the necessary reserves lav iho natives, should be settled first, .and the proceeds paid into the hands of itfhe Public Trustee for the benefit of the owners until the question oi individual titles is determined. Mr Newman, like many others, bc- ! Jievcs that the only salvation of the Maori raco is to be found in work. If .they have to work for their living on their land as their pakcha brother has ' rto." ho said, "they will be saved from the greatest danger that can attach to their race." .

"The othor great obstacle that hinders tho advancement of the Bay of Plenty district," continued Mr Newman, "is the want-of railway communication. It looks as if this will bo remedied beforo long, and it'is to bo hoped that no delay that can bo avoided will take place in tho prosecution of this great work." Mr Newman, who is a farmer, was greatly pleased with tho fields of maize and other crops which were to bo seen in manv of tho settled parts of the district, which, to hie mind, is well adapted for fruit-growing. It was to bo hoped, concluded Mr Newman, since tho passing of the Bill of last session, authorising the Government to annually spend £500.000 for tho acquisition of native land, that thoy would adopt a more active policy in regard to the acquisition of such property in the districts mentioned, and would in all cases give tho new settlers the right of purchase, without which the country would never be fully improved. Mr Newman, who was accompanied by Mrs and Miss Newman, has now returned home to Marton.