The Opunake Times. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1895. WEST COAST LEAGUE.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 111, 26 July 1895, Page 2

The Opunake Times. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1895. WEST COAST LEAGUE.

The idea of forming a league for promoting legislation to put the lessees of native lands on a more satisfactory footing is being taken up with spirit throughout the district. At the meeting of delegates held at New Plymouth last Saturday officers were appointed for the ensuing year, and delegates were appointed to proceed to Wellington to present the petition which was drawn up, and is now open for signature. As a means of raising the sinews of war, which are absolutely essential in order to carry on any movement of the kind, it has been decided to make a levy on those joining the league in proportion to the acreage held. When the meeting was held at Opunake it was suggested that the levy should be one shilling per hundred acres, but on further consideration it was decided to increase the amount of the levy to two shillings per hundred acres. The cause for this increase is that it will possibly take more than one session to give effect to the object, and if a further levy had to be made it would entail a good deal of expense and trouble to collect the amount. When it is considered that a great number of the lessees hold under 200 acres a two shilling le\y is not an exorbitant one, taking the objects in view into account. We understand also that a petition is being prepared for signature by the natives, asking that the administration should be taken out of the hands of the Public Trustee, and, that they favor a Crown purchase of the reserves, substituting debentures therefor. There appears to be an interminable number of charges and deductions made from the rents which the natives do not understand, and they are" coming to the conclusion that % they would be better off if they had debentures, in which case they would know exactly what their income was. If all the lessees join the league and pull together in harmony, sinking all other political 'side winds, until their object is attained, they will become a very strong political factor in the provincial district of Taranaki, and would wield a very strong influence in the return of the members for the House for that part. The league will, however, require very delicate and judicious management so as to effect this end. The leaders of it must keep thoroughly in touch with the great body of its members, and not introduce individual or personal aims, but must be prepared to so direct its policy that they will all rise together or fall together, as the case may be.