NATIVE LAND MATTERS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4302, 30 May 1885, Page 2

NATIVE LAND MATTERS.

THE NEW LEGISLATION. A correspondent Wellington writes : — To facilitate the individualisation of native holdings on the West Coast, the Native Minister has requested the Chief Judge of 'the Native Land Court to hold sittings as soon as possible. Mr Ballance considers that the settlement of the natives upon their own individual plots will do much to allay any feelittg that may ex"ist amongst the natives living in the vicinity of the confiscated boundary. It may be stated at the same time that Mr Ballance is of opinion that the present commission and charges for collecting rents on native reserves (20 per cent.) are excessive, and is taking steps to have a rate of charges fixed at a lower scale. The financial -part of the question is under the consideration of Sir J. Yogel, and a new scale will shortly be gazetted. Another Wellington correspondent writes : — I have been informed by the Native Minister that one of the principal complaints of the Maoris is the difficulty they find in obtaining individual assertion of their titles to portions of their tribal lands. To most people the facilities which the law as it stands offer would appear very considerable ; but Maoris meet with very "knowing ones" among their own tribes, and the consequence is that very great hardship is caused by the Maori "bush lawyer," who covets his neighbour's land. The Chief Judge will provide for this in his Bill to be introduced for the consolidation of the iaw relating to native lands. A Napier paper says-: — It is stated that the Government have resolved to dispense with the services of three of the Judges, and appoint three other gentlemen. The retiring Judges are Mr H. T. Clarke, Mr L. O'Brien, and Mr E. M. Williams. Each of these gentlemen is entitled to a retiring pension of £300 a-year. Mr H. T. Clarke received his first appointment under the Government in 1843. Mr L. O'Brien entered the service in 1855. Mr R Williams was appoineed Resident Magistrate of Waimate in 1861. Whether these three gentlemen retire from their present appointments of their own free will and accord we are not in a position to say. Neither do we know whether they have not been superseded in order to enable the Government to exercise patronage. As we have said before, they will retire on pensions of £300 a year each, and their places will be filled by others at £600 a year. The country thus loses £900 a year. The gentlemen whose names are mentioned to fill the vacancies are Messrs T. McDonnell, formerly well known as Colonel McDonnell, J. A. Wilson, of Tauranga, and R. J. Gill, <f the Native office^ The N.Z. Herald strongly condemns Mr Ballance for not circulating his native Bills in both languages before the session, saving : — ln respect to this measure for dealing with native lands, the Government are pledged over and over again. Last session, in withdrawing the Native Lands Settlement Bill, Mr Ballance stated that he did so in order that the natives might have time before next session to consider the measure he was about to introduce. Mr Locke, one of the best authorities in the House on the subject of native lands, said: — "I hope that, if he is going to introduce a Bill dealing with this subject next session, we shaln during the recess, learn what his proposal - will be, and have an opportunity of M cussing them." The expectation that ttm proposals of the Government would b% made known, so that Europeans and . Maoris should be able to see and consider them, ran all through the debate. Indeed, the principal reason why Mr Ballauce withdrew the Bill was that sufficient time had not been allowed for its consideration. Further, Mr Ballance, during his visit to the King country, made several clear and distinct promises. He said : "Tawhiaohas asked that all laws shall bo so carefully prepared that he may look at them, and that he. may have an opportunity pf judging which to prefer. I thoroughly agree with that sentiment, and I will try as far as possible to carry out the wishes which Tawhiao has expressed. I think that all important laws, before they are made, should be submitted to the judgment and discussion of the native people ; and I shall take care that all Acts and laws shall be submitted to them before they are submitted to Parliament. ... The most important part of my speech is, that we shall consult with the chiefs and the people before we pass laws affecting their interests. I have given you my word that that shall be done in future. ... All large questions of legislation affecting the native people should be circulated amongst them before they are introduced." Again and again was the promise gnaxfc

by the Government, i whoso distinctive virtue was, that it was to bo perfectly truthful with the natives, and, above all, wji3 to consult with them, and take their opinions on all questions in which thoy wero interested. And yet wo are now within a fortnight of the opening of the session, and no draft Bill, or statement of what the measure is to be like, has ever been made. It is impossible to educe the public opinion of the colony in respect to a Bill which is first produced in the midst of a heated and busy session. What we are entitled to infer respectingjihe coming measure, from statements by Mr Stout and Mr Ballance to the natives, is by no means of a reassuring character. Itseoms to be directed to the creation of a huge leasing system, by which the Maoris will remain unimproving and grasping landlords, while the Government will act as the hated "middleman," who squeezes out the rents, and sells up the defaulters. On the occasion of the turning of the sod of the Trunk Railway, the Premier said : «It w ill make your land more valuable, and the land that you do not need, if you wish to lease it, you will get more money tor it. Mr Ballance, at an interview he lad with the natives, said :— When the feople arc prepared to lease, then Government will assist by advancing the mon y or the surveys, and all they shall ask Av.il >c that the cost of the surveys will be returned to them. The Bill that we intend to introduce will prevent the necessity of the Government acquiring lands, the principal object of the Government being to get the country settled, and if the natives will do that themselves, by leasing their land", the Government will assist them, and not otherwise interfere." The above quotation is important, as showing the tenure and mode of holding which the Government mean to endeavor to create. We do not suppose that the Government Bill of next session will prohibit all sales, but it is evidently the intention of the Government to encourage leasing, to promote the formation of a Maori aristocracy who shall have nothing to do but to draw rents from the tenants, while the Government is employed in the hated position of agent. We do not believe that under such a plan the country would ever be settled. Settlers taking up Crown lands under lease, have always the prospect of ultimately obtaining the freehold, but with Maori landlords this would be impossible. And the fact of the Government acting as agent over such a large extent of country, would introduce an abnormal element int) politics that would be antagonistic to the proper discharge of the functions of a Government. It is possible we admit for the Government to carry out some such plan if they will insist on cutting up the land into large grazing areas, or runs, but if they really desire to settle » the country with farmers, who shall bring out the capabilities of the soil, they will • abandon the ideas they seem to entertain. We ask the Auckland members, before they leave for Wellington, to say whether they are agreeable that the settlement of the King Country shall be attempted on such a license as this. These are the points— leases, Maori landlords, the Government to act as agents. As to the machinery which the Government propose o create to deal with the ownership of he land, it appears to be as rotf,en as the r est of the Government proposals.