THE NATIVE MINISTER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10304, 11 March 1905, Page 4

THE NATIVE MINISTER.

est help should bo given to districts such as Raglan, and the lands round about should be opened up with all possible speed. Mr Carroll proceeded next day to Kawhia, en route to Rotorua. The Auckland Herald, commenting on Mr Carroll's speech, says : In speaking at Raglan upon the prospects of settling the Te Akau block, Mr Carroll, the Native Minister, vtry soundly urged that while the legislature should remove all obstacles to tlie settlement of the largo areas lying useless and unused, the Maoris ought to receive the same treatment as would be meted out to Europeans. This is excellent policy— on paper-. Th* difficulty is that the Administration of which Mr Carroll is an eloquent member does not treat the Maori m land matters as it treats the European, and most unreasonably persists m its refusal to do so. If a European holds large areas of pastoral land needed for doner settlement, and will not cut it wp itself, it is resumed by the State at a valuation, but if Maoris hold, utterly unused, great tracts of virgin soil, they are not allowed to sell it, nor will tlie State resume it from them paying a fair price. The law at the present lime aims at the leasing of Maori lands to Europeans,' with periodic revaluation, which is the creation of hereditary Maori pensioners, tended by v bureaucracy, to the detriment of the European settler and the demoralisation of the Maori race. If the Maori wore to be treated m any way as tho European his surplus lands would be resumed by the Crown, or foe would be allowed to sell them himself. Then as to taxes, Maori ' lands unused and idle, not only impede [.settlement by throwing disproportionate j road-works upon our settlers, but pay no ' '.rates towards those roads. The Maori '■ should be rated like the European, and should have not only the same rights, but the same duties and' responsibilities. The Maori lands, as far as the Maoris can use them, should be individualised, so that the lazy will not prey upon the industrious, as they do under the existing I communal system. But they should be .individualised upon a freehold basis, with • limitations as to power of alienation, not i upon a mere modification of the present communail method, which is notoriously the great stumbling-block an the way of Maori development.

The Raglan correspondent of the Auckland Herald telgrapned on Wednesday: The Hon. J. Carroll, Native Minister, returned from aux inspection of Te Akau block, of 120,000 acres, last night, having travelled as far as Teaoterei. At a banquet, given by the residents m honor of the visit, Mr Carroll said he favored the block being settled, and outlined a scheme, whereby a portion would be reserved for Maori villages, a portion for the Maoris who desire to become agriculturists, amd the rest leased to Europeans by the Government on the Maoris behalf. It was, he said, a sacred obligation on tlie country to see that, nothing should be done inimical to the Maoris. His idea was that tlie natives should retain a portion of the estate. This would destroy all communism. A 'certain portion of the 1240 acres should be set aside for them and allotted by 'ballot, and those that were fortunate enough to secuxe sections -would pay rent, less their own individual interest, while those who were not so fortunate would receive rent. It was quite possible special legislation would be required to deal with the block. When: this area has been set. aside the balance could be cut up for Europeans. There were large areas m the district Avhich m a short time -would be lying, useless and unused, and also 'large areas were at present untouched. It was the duty of the Legislature to remove every obstacle to advancement. ; They had, how. ever, to .consider .'the interests of the immediate possessors, the Maoris, who should receive the same consideration and tine same degree. of justice as Europeans. He hoped to prevail m hie attempt to impress .upon the natives the. necessity ,A>r the proper utilisation of their lands. /The natives, however, must have a chance, «*' order that no .charge of injustice could be laid to the door. of the Government m time to. come. He thought the wants of the district demanded greater, assistance, ■which" should be given. He suggested borrowing largely foiv roads aud bridges and light- railways. This money should be earmarked by special Act, for the assistance of local bodies on a .•classification system. ; Local 'revenue could then go/ to help to pay interest on loan. Some mod- <