THE TRUST LANDS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8414, 13 January 1899, Page 2

THE TRUST LANDS.

Replying to the representations of the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday evening, the Hon. J. Carroll carefully avoided reference to the Chairman's pointed enquiry as to the Carroll-Wi Pere trust lands. It is a matter upon which some information might have been expected from him, for who can be in a better position than himself — one of the trustees — to know the reason that these lands have been so lone hung up from settlement? As a member of the Ministry also, he should have been able to tell us something. It will be remembered that in Parliament last session, and in his speech at Gisborne — in the House and out of the House— the Premier made statements that something would be done to relieve these estates of their burden of debt and make them available for settlement. But nothing is done, and the people are naturally anxious to know the reason why the district is being kept back by I he locking up of these estates, which if they were thrown open would immediately find settlers, and bring in a revenue that would at least pay interest on their debt. The extent of the debt that is being piled up against the Native owners may be judged from the fact that accumulated interest and costs since the Validation Court took the administration of the lands, and issued titles to them three years ago, amount to several thousand pounds. Who is responsible for this do-nothing policy ? Mr Carroll must not be surprised if the people cast upon him and the Government the burden of responsibility. If the fault is not theirs, but the Validation Court's, surely means can be found to induce the Court to move, so that what is beginning to amount to a positive shame to the Government, the Court, and the district maybe removed.