HOKIANGA LANDS, FORESTS, AND THE GOVERNMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5398, 6 March 1879, Page 3

HOKIANGA LANDS, FORESTS, AND THE GOVERNMENT.

TO TSB EDITOR. Sir,—The action of the Government, as published by you in this morning's Issue, is only one of the numerous acts of the Government towards enterprising settlers, which amounts to cruel injustice and oppression. In Tauranga, Gisbome, Wanganui, and other places, where persons have been negotiating the purchase or lease oflinds, with and without forests, the Government his encouraged, and in some cases promised to assist, individuals in their efforts to conclude arrangements with the natives, but after large sums of money had been paid to the natives, the Government, in the most treacherous manner, and against previous professions and promises, gazetted the land, to the ruin or loss of deserving people. It would be difficult to estimate the amount of lobs inflicted upon struggling enterprising people through the conduct of the Government in relation to dealings with the natives, nor will it be possible to estimate the disastrous consequences to the North Island that must follow from such unjust, iniquitous acts ; for it has already paralysed investors, and crushed industry in many cases, to my own knowledge. The Premier appears to have an insane kind of idea that capitalists and land-buyers are to ruin the country if allowed to remain in it, or come into it. At the Thames he told the people not to be deluded into the notion that capitalists were required, and all his aclons tend In the same direction. Now, I maintain that the colony is actually crippled at he present moment for want of capital, and that all new countries require capital to develop their resources, and, without capital, no new country rapidly advance in wealth, settlement, or prosperity. In the eyos of Sir George Grey it appears that enterprise is wrong, investment of money in land is wrong, unless done in the name of the human race, and for the benefit of posterity. Sir Goorge Grey blamed the lato Government for sending to England at high salaries their toady followers to fill the colony with paupers, whereas his own appointment of G. M. Reed at a much greater salary and expenses paid is more disgraceful than any of the late Government. Of course, the Assembly will soon put a stop to the career of the present Government, but meanwhile the damago to the colony and individuals will be enormous. If capital is discouraged and immigration at high Co3t fostered, wages of workiog men must necessarily fall to a shilling a day or less, and the North Island will rosemblts the wilds of Tipperary. Had Sir Georgo Grey kept his promise in relation to selling the Hinemoa and Ministerial palaces, reducing official expenses a hundred thousand pounds, and putting Ministers' salaries down to £1000, which he solemnly declared enough, or had he carried out the promisrt of the Native Minister and himself In nativo matters, he would have done much good : instead of which, I feel that he is ruining the colony, and that his acts are not likci those of a sane person.—l am, &c., March 5, 187& J. 3. MACfAKLAyg.