PREMIER AT NAPIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13355, 8 December 1906, Page 7

PREMIER AT NAPIER.

FINANCIAL POSITION. OF

THE COLONY.

GREAT INCREASE IN

REVENUE.

LAST YEAR'S EXPORTS

£16,000,000.

NEW NATIVE LAND PRO-

POSALS.

t [Br 1101,1 GIUNI. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Natter, Tuesday. Thi; Premier addressed a large public meeting at the Theatre Royal this evening, and was accorded a most enthusiastic reception. The Mayor presided, and fully 800 people were present. He referred to the prosperity of the colony, and said that it was of the utmost importance that (he finances, should be in a satisfactory condition, or the pendulum would swing back. The late Colonial Treasurer, time and again, believed the apex of progress bad been reached, yet year after year, the progress continued, and belied the estimate he had made of it, and lie was pleased to state that" the revenue for the eight months of the present year was £104,000 belter than for the first eight months of the previous year. East year we bad received the enormous sum of £16,000,0,00 sterling for produce sent out of the. colony by a people numbering under one million. This was a splendid Result to be achieved by such a comparatively small handful of people.

NATIVE LANDS. Willi regard to native lands, he considered the settlement of these, was of much more importance than that of the comparatively small amount of Crown hinds. The failure of the many Acts passed to deal with the question was admitted. , Settlement had been prevented, and millions of acres of good land remained unsettled, and the income of the, colony suffered to the extent of millions. The amount of native land now in the colony was, according to the Commissioner.*!, 5,830,000 acres fit for settlement, and 1,600,000 unfit for settlement. This large amount of land lying idle was a loss to the colony, and was bad for the natives themselves. .Since the passing of the last Native Land Act, 250,000 acres had been acquired, and 200,000 had come into possession of the colony. This was a small quantity compared with the total •available, but there would be considerable difficulty unless a further departure were taken by the Government. If the principle of limitation of large areas applied to large holders of land who were Europeans it applied equally to all large landholders, whether native or European. The Government ought to deal on the principle that there should be no locking up of large ateas, though in all cases this should be done with perfect justice to the natives. It ought to be ascertained what lands are available, and the natives should be safeguarded by having lands set aside properly for them, and after full provision had been made for the natives themselves they should have the right to sell in limited areas. The Government ought to consider the propriety of appointing a Commission of men of the highest standing in the colony, and that this Commission should be one that the natives had confidence in. The Native Minister should be on that Commission, and the Commission should be. authorised not merely to inquire and examine as to land * available, but also whether the present system is the best that could be devised, and, if not, whether it should be adhered to, or whether a system which he proposed should be adopted. This "Was:— * J

1. They should ascertain the owners of (Bach block.

2. Ascertain the areas in toto. 3. Area.** in homes, ami the proportion cultivated by the natives. ■ 4. After making full provision for the natives, what surplus is available for settlement.

5. Recommend how the surplus should be settled, and what may be open for purchase.

6. In caw of timber lands or lands not easily accessible by roads or railway, oil. what system settlement would be best. 7. The returns should be ready by June next, then the land would be almost immediately available, and the proposals placed with the Public Trustee, who would Me that provision was made for reading. The funds would l>e placed to credit of the individual native, and the Public Trustee would pay interest oil this jo him for all time.'

Under these proposals the colony would cease to.be the only purchaser of native lands. These proposals, if earned into effect, would ensure the natives a much larger income than they had at present, and they were made with' ii view to conserve the interests of the natives, and to settle the lands of the colony. Every native would be able to get full value for Ids land. The Government wanted to be able to take such, lands as Were suitable for closer settlement. • - GAMBLING.

He referred to the, gambling evil, and advocated restrictive, rather titan repressive, measures. They should try and keep the gambling on races within the limit of the racecourses.

DEFENCE. He would make an announcement next week in Wellington with regard to the question of defence. New Zealand was" under the shadow of the great Eastern countries, and the people of this colony, though loyal to the core, should determine that they would not allow the people, of the Old Land to forcft upon them the millions of these countries. In making great treaties exemptions should be made, and the self-govern-ing colonies should be consulted on anything affecting them. A vote of thanks and confidence in the Government was carried unanimously.