THE LAND QUESTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13834, 22 February 1907, Page 5

THE LAND QUESTION.

SPEECH BY THE NATIVE MINISTER,

A PROGRESSIVE POLICY. (Pep, "United Pmss Association.) WAIROA, February 21. The lion. J. Carroll, Messrs l'Yaser and Nga.ta, and the judges of the Native courts wore entertained last night. Mr Peter Wilson (the Mayor) was in the chair. Tho Native Minister explained the forward movement in Maori land legislation, l'hc eonslitntioii of Ihe newly-created land boards was designed to hasten tho settlement of waste lands. The slow process of individualising titles retarded the settlement of these lauds. Tho land boards were designed to gi\c a valid title on tho application of intending lessees, tho properties to bo administered for the benefit of the Maori owners. Ho stated that tho Government had determined on a progressive policy in Native matters, so as to settle tho Maoris in their own land, and where a surplus remained to dispose of it to Europeans. Ho referred lo the Land Bill, and said there Were (wo ways of cutting up tho largo estates required for settlement—to increase tho graduated land tax or tho application of the limit clause. He deprecated tho cry of the perpetual leaseholders for tho freohokl. Settlers under this tcnuro were placed on land by the Government, and when (hey had been assisted to prosperity they cried out fqr tho freehold and the. right to buy their holding! out. on tho original valuation. The Government did not intend to breakits contract with .the people in disposing of these lands, and why should individuals attempt to shirk tho carrying out of their part of the, contract. Tho Government only hold the land in trust for the people, and would not bo disturbed by the clamour of tho IcaM-in-po.rpctuitv tenant for Iho freehold. Regarding the limitation of areas and (ho cutting up of -largo holdings required for settlement, it would, ho said, be a less complicated method to increase tho graduated land (ax and put by the Land Bill for a few years until the country was more prepared to recicve it. It didn't matter what plan was adopted if thoy secured tho desired end, and that was the land, for Iho people. He indicated the probability of tho Land Bill being dropped. Mr A. L. D. Eraser joined issue with Mr Carroll over tho land question, and declared himself an out-and-out freeholder. He instanced that all prosperous communities had freehold tenure for the individual. The declared desire of tho people was to have their own bit of land, and that feeling for tho freehold was too strong for any Administration to combat. As regards Native lands, he thought that where possible the Maoris should be settled on their own properties, and where they had surplus lands thoy should disposo of them and improve, the holdings they retained. The iwoplo were crying out for land, and unoccupied blocks must bo thrown open, a progressive policy being adopted in regard to Native lands. Soon largo areas would be settled,

Mr Ngata said the Maori was always suspicions at the initiation of a. new system, and in regard to now institutions such as tlio Native Land Boards as some method of taking land away from them. The Maori could bo ns industrious a settler as the European, as instanced at Nuhaka, when he had abandoned tho communistic system and lived separately on his own sections and carried on his own dairying. Hi? mission was to prove tiiat tho Maori was as capable, as tho European in fanning mutters. Mr Ngata declared -himself a leaseholder. The Maoris now had more land than they could use, and wero willing to lease the surplus to Europeans for terms. If, when the lease- terminates, the Maoris had increased then they could resume the hind. The difficulties of getting a title through by the old methods was responsible for Maori indolence. Maoris in many cases couldn't got on to their own land. Their lot was hinder than, that of the European.. For over one and a-half million acres of Native land the title had never been investigated, yet tho Maoris wanted the land as much as the Europeans, but it was their own land they wanted. If given tho opportunity of settling, they would make good farmers. • The Maoris only wanted an incentive, and tho indolence for which they were blamed would disappear.

Tho speakers' remarks as to the progressive policy in Nativo land administariion and the proposed throwing open of immense blocks of idle lands in the' district were received with applause.

Tho Native Appellate Court lias concluded the hearing of appeals in various blocks dealt, with under the net of 1867, and administered by tho Nativo Land Court 1868. The question was whether tho original grantees were tho owners or hold the land in trust. Chief Judge Jackson Palmer and Judges Jones and Sim will deliver judgment on Friday.

The Maori Land Board—Colonel Porter (president) and Mr Keeper llila Wi Pero (assessors) —is bearing an application for the lcaso of Native in mis. The blocks arc io be administered by the board, and tho slow method' of. individualising titles and putting them through the Land Court is thus avoided between the lessee and lessor. This will lead to considerable settlement in this district, whore otherwise tho land would lie unoccupied for years.

During the last few days Messrs Ngata and Eraser mot the Native owners of large blocks lying between Napier and Gisborne. The scope and powers of the commission had been fully explained to the Natives, and there seems a keen and lively interest taken in the proceedings. Judging from the results so far, the Natives seem anxious to assist, in throwing open their lands for settlement, and only want somo little Government encouragement to make them take up extensive, areas themselves. Mr Ngata loavos overland for Napier to-day. ind on bis way will address meetings of Natives in connection with tho Waihua and Mohaka blocks at Mohaka. Tho programme drawn out, which will embrace a personal visit to all the Native blocks available for settlement between Napier and Wairoa. and Wairoa and Gisborno, and will possibly be followed by an extended tour to the north of Gisborno.

The Clucr Justice (Sir Robert .Slout) has been occupied to-day in investigating tlio lilies to several Mocks of Native lands. Tt is expected that his fellow-commissioner (Mr A. T. Ngata, M.H.R.) will arrive from Wairoa to-night, and that the Native Lands Commission will commenco ils sittings to-morrow