OPEN THE NATIVE LANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14110, 12 July 1909, Page 6

OPEN THE NATIVE LANDS.

CURE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

The opening of the native land and a progressive policy of general land settlement, by which exports would be increased, lias frequently been urged in the New Zealand Herald as a remedy for unemployment. Mr. E. Newman, M.P. for Manawatu, in an interview with a Dominion reporter, takes the same view, and puts forward some commonsense arguments in its favour. Mr. Newman was one of a deputation'which waited on the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Lab- j our, last week on the unemployed question. Summarising the results of the deputation, Mr. Newman said: — "The position, according to the Hon. Mr. Millar, is that we have two courses open. Reduction in expenditure on pub-, lic works, or largely increased borrowing or more taxation. I think there is another road open to sound national prosperity. We must increase our exports without any delay that can be avoided. The exports of this country should exceed the imports by at least 3j millions to make the financial position sound. There is only one way to bring about the result indicated, viz., by immediate action in the direction of close settlement of our remaining Crown and native lands, and .by releasing the large sum of money that is now sunk in lands held by tenants under the Land for Settlements Act, in order that further estates suitable for close occupation may be acquired and resold to small farmers. " But the greatest difficulty to be overcome is in the direction of settlement by Europeans of the surplus Maori lands. I desire to say here that I have for years lived in a district where there are many Maoris, but I have never dealt in an acre of Maori land in my life; and, further, I would not be a party to any injustice to the Maori race, for whom I have the greatest admiration. "But I contend the present Native policy is neither in the interest of the Maoris nor of the Dominion. It is not in the true interest of the Maoris to make them a rent-receiving class—to provide them with a living without labour. I believe the salvation of the Maori race lies in their having to work for their living, as our settlers do. The Maoris, as a people, have been treated by the Governments of New Zealand with more than liberality. Under the Treaty of Waitangi the title of all lands occupied by Maoris was recognised, but will any sane man contend that at that period the Maoris 'occupied' the vast blocks of land in the interior of the North Island, of which land we have declared they are owners? It was not so. The Maoris chiefly occupied the frontages to the rivers, and to the sea coast in places, but the back country, except in some isolated instances, was to all intents and purposes no-man's land. The time has now come that these lands, after ample reserves have been provided for the Maoris, must be settled, in small blocks, with careful restrictions as to area and safeguards against reaggregation—and on a tenure that will give the occupants the right of purchase in order to ensure early settlement and full and rapid develop ment. • i '

"The Government, for the last 17 or 18 years, have been slowly, and with marvellous deliberation, individualising the titles of the natives. I contend that settlement of the surplus native land must take place first, and individualisation of title can be made afterwards. Neither the land nor the natives will run away. When Europeans block settlement, we take the estate under the Land for Settlements —after paying for it, as a rule, generously. Why should we not do the same with Maori lands? I would not rob the Maoris of one penny, but I believe that we must settle the country in order to save ourselves from a financial crisis, and it is quite clear that the present native policy will never do it. The position of the Dominion, with the produce of millions of acres now unproductive, added to its export trade, would be very much sounder than it is now. No injustice need be done to the natives, and our lands would be occupied by a community of .industrious settlers, with holdings strictly limited in area, but sufficient for their reasonable wants; whilst the Maoris would have, in the hands of the Public Trustee, or otherwise invested, large sums of money, the proceeds of the sale of their surplus lands, and would also have reserved to them sufficient land on which to earn their living as their fellowsettlers do.

" This matter," concluded Mr. Newman, " presents many difficulties, and' it would be necessary to borrow for the roading, etc., of this land, but a loan, earmarked for this purpose, would be a good investment for the Dominion. The question must be faced, and it is to be hoped that Parliament will approach this subject with a determination to settle it and seek for a solution that will be just and beneficial to the natives, and, at the same time, will provide for the speedy settlement of their surplus lands, which now, to a large extent, form the waste lands of the Dominion, more especially in the North Island."