Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 11, Issue 991, 13 October 1855, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the New-Zealander. Sib, —Believing the Land Question to be the most important that came before the House of Ilepresentavives last session, I have to request that you will now, although late, insert in your paper my speech on the subject. The notes were handed to the Reporter of the Southern Cross immediately after the debate, and, apromise wag made in that paper to insert it in «n

early number, but at length theliiditor declines to insert it at all. . I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, W. F. PORTER. Auckland, Oct. Hth, 1855. When tliis colony wa? taken possession of, it became a dependency of New South Wales, where a high price oflnnd was established, it therefore became necessary to maintain a high price of land here, and for which purpose the Treaty of Waitangi was made, seeing that we could not take*the land by force, and that the natives w uld not giro it up. They were told distinctly that it was not intended to deprive them of their property, but that that the Government would buy the land from them. 'They appeared to have some difficulty in undemanding the matter. At last an old chief settled it by saying that the shadow was to go to the Queen, but they were to beep the substance ; that was the conclusion they came lo But even this treaty was only made with a few ; a large portion of them knew nothing about it, and those who did sign it did not understand what they were doing, but it is perfectly clear from a statement made by Captain Hobson, that the Government thought they had secured the land. He slated, when advised to buy up the land as speedily as possible, there was no necessity for it, thi-re being no competition in the market. ‘ lie could get it cn his own terms, whenever be pleased. To my mind a man buying on his own terms, whenever he pleases, is little short of taking it altogether. In fact the nat ves were cheated, ami the Europeans who had bought lands before the Government Came, were afterwards rubbl'd to keep up a high price of laud for the interests of New South Wales. Captain Hobson at that time was not aware of the power of the natives, and apprehended little difficulty (having got possession) in dealing with them on his own terms. And even in Mr. Shortland’s time their power was not known, Colonel Bunbury having said that wiib one hundred men he could go through the whole country ; but they were soon undeceived by the Heki war, which originated in the land question, although the flag-ssaff was nominally live cause of it. The same is the case now at New Plymouth. The land question is the cause pf the disturbance there, and Las been almost the only cause of dispute between the Government and Kuroropeans. During the Heki war, the good management of Captain Fitzßoy, and that brave hut cautious man the late Colonel Hulme, kept them in check until sufficient force could bo brought up to put it down ; and by waiving the right of pre-emption, and doing justice to the natives in this part of the country they were prevented from joining Heki, and would not allow him to come through tie Kaipuradistrict, by which m> ana the colony wus saved to Her Majesty ; for 1 firra'v believe if the natives here had joined Heki, and allowed him to come to Auckland, when there were only forty troops in the place, we should ail have been driven out of tbe colony, if uoihiug worse had happened to us. Waiving the right cf pre-emption made land cheap, and gave to Aunkland its first start on the road to prosperity, but it ruined ail the rid land claimants, and seiiously injured those who had bought at high prices from the Government. The old claims were promptly settled by Captain FitzKov after he Rrrrived, hut the mischief was done. Some of their land sold at less than Is. per acre. Ihe eff et of cheap land was immediately visible in the increased cultivation and improvements which took place in the country, and many of the present settlers, who are now well off' owe their prospering to that measure, and for granting • .rich Captain Fitzßoy was so much blamed. On the a ’rived of Sir George Grey, a high price was re-established ; which caused great dissatisfaction, and again checked the progress of this Povince. Tbe Now Zealand Company were then allpowerful at home, and a low price of li.nl here would have been injurious to their interests, but when the New Zealand Com anv was no more, and Sir George Grey on the era o his departure, was courting po[ularity, he could find out that a cheaper price of land would be beneficial. Why did be not know it hefo el The reduction in the price ofland to 10s. has had a goof effect thioughont the whole colony, and 1 believe a still lower piice, and the country being thrown open, would bring in such an influx of peop'e that we should soon far outnumber the natives, and have it in our power to make British laws respected ; but while the country is locked up as at present, we can make but slow progress. 1 lie native wants to sell his laud, and the European wants to buy, but is prevented by the Government. Both are di satisfied and I believe (and my opinion is borne out by very good authority) that while we continue to buy at a low price, and sell again, before their faces at a much higher rate, we are not safe. . Do them justice, and we have nothing to fear. They know the value of us, and are anxious for the settlement of Europeans among them. Cheap land, available to all, will soon people the country ; but while the country is locked up, but btile progress can be made, the native wants to sell his land, and the Europeans to buy, but Government will not allow them to do so. Both are dissatisfied. The direction from the Home Government on the subject of pre-emption was, that at whatever cost the honour of Her Alajesry'mnst be maintamed ; hut in defiance of iho.-e directions Sir George Grey, in tbe most harsb and unfeeling manm , took the lauds from them, and not satisfied with that in his despatches home, lost Ins temp >r so much as to abuse them, calling them miserable lar d speculators. The honour of Her Aiajety has been compromised by taking from her Emopesn objects land bought under Captain Fitzßoy’s waver of pre-emption, and daily compromised by preventing her Maori subjects selling and making free use of their own land —land winch is acknowledged to be theirs by the Treaty of Waitangi, but by the Native Land Purchase Or nance, any European, working even for hire, and living on native land, is liable to a penalty of one hundred pounds, he cannot even cut a stick of timber on their land without being liable to the penalty. This Ordinance was framed by Sir George Grey, the friend of he Maories, and who stated as a reason for withholding tbe first Constitution, bis fear that the European population would treat the Alaories unjustly, ana thereby cause distuibanco. Lat ua prove that be was wrong by at once allowing them to do as they like with their own property. The effect will be most beneficial to ns in all our after dealing with them. Having once gained their confidence, they will not mistrust us hereafter, but wilffbelieve that any laws we make affecting them are intended for their good. A good understanding will be established between tbe two races, and the country w ill prosper. On the ether hand, if, for tbe sake of k'eping up a high price, we continue to take their land from them at a low pree, and sell again at a high price, the risk of another wai is iniminenr, if it has not already commenced. Is it not better at once to concede the point while we can do it with a good grace,’,than be compelled to do it hereafter, when it will come with a bad grace. A great benefit would be conferred on all by allowing the white population to mix freely with the natives. Then civilisation would be promoted, and the Europeans, of every class, would havejland available on moderate terms, and the increased consumption ot goods would be an advantage to people in towns, and increase tbe revenue. The high price of land is a tax on those who ought not pay the whole of it, as they are not the only persons benefitted by good roads and immigration. Out of the land tax, not more than one-half is profit to the Government. The New Zealand Company’s fourth, the surveys, expenses of Commissions, &c., &c., absorb the other half. If the eouniry is thrown open, no immigration fund will be required, aud the small real loss in the revenue, may easily be made up in a less objection ible way by either a small transit tax, a tax on the transfer of real property, or a land tax. 1 have purposely avoided detail in this matter, but have considered it well, and see no difficulties hut wbnt may easily be overcome ; but I do no; consid r this a time for going into them. This is a matter that cannot be delayed long, and the sooner it is settled the better. There are plenty of natives who can read our language, and whatever passes in tins House will be known to them. We are all hero to repreaqpt them as well as ourselves, and it is our duty to see d justice done to them. Look at the bearing of this question upon our after dealings with tbe natives. If we do them justice new, they will have confidence in us hereafter, and we shall give the lie to those who misrepresented us, and withheld the first Constitution for five years, for fear of us doing injustice to the natives, when at the same time he had, in the Native Land Purchase Ordinance, ; c ually prohibited them not only from selling or Reusing, but from usin ; it in any way except by ih< ir own labour. They could not Lire a Emopean lo live on their land,to woik for them, and instruct them in the use of the plough, or in the art ul agriculture, and which prevented tbe Lord Bishop from being useful to th'-m ; he having on one occasion, joined with them in cultivating their land, he found horses, ploughs, and seed, they land and labour ; but after doing it once, finding there was a law against it, he desisted, to the injury of both parties. The question now before the House is this.—you were not able to lake the native lands when first the Government came here, are you able to do so now, and is it just you should do so.