THE Poverty Bay Independent. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Tuesday, July 21, 1885.

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 25, 21 July 1885, Page 2

THE Poverty Bay Independent. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Tuesday, July 21, 1885.

The great importance to this district of the question debated at the public meeting held on Friday evening last, relative to the two Native Land Bills now before Parliament, can scarcely be over estimated. We have undoubtedly more to hope for and more to gain from any measure which is fairly calculated to simplify and facilitate the mode of dealing with Native lands, and the clearing up and giving of good titles, than any other district within these colonies; consequently we are proportionally and in a like degree interested in the two Bills now before the

House. With respect to the “ Nativ e Land Disposition Bill ”•—more commonly called the “ Committee Bill ”•— there is no room whatever for two opinions as to the utterly ruinous effect which such a mischievous measure would have, not alone upon the best interests of this district in particular, but also upon the whole North Island. The passing of such a measure into law would certainly mean the confirming and perpetuating of that narrow minded aud short sighted policy which has been introduced by Mr Bryce, and which has undoubtably been a very material factor in assisting to bring about the present general stagnation of trade and business. This being essentially a Native district where large numbers of persons have had much experience in Native land dealings, it naturally follows that our opinions will have much weight with those who have to legislate upon this question, and no effort should be spared and no opportunity lost, to place upon record our determined and persistent opposition to the “ Native Lands Disposition Bill.” The other measure called the “ Native Lands Consolidation Bill ” is, although pronounced faulty in a few minor details, universally accepted as a measure eminently calculated to meet our requirements and to remove most of those unwise and obnoxious restrictions which have hitherto had the effect of preventing any but the large capitalists from acquiring Native land. Hitherto, and under the present regims, a man of ordinary means could not possibly purchase a few acres, and then get it cut out and a good title given to him. Even the capitalist who had sufficient capital to purchase the whole block might get nine-tenths of the shares, and then the owner of the remaining share, knowing the defective state of the law, and taking advantage of his position, could, and as a fact invariably did, refuse to sell the remaining share except at a most extortionate and ruinous price ; and haggling would frequently go on for many months and sometimes years, and the large sums already paid, together with the land, would be lying idle and unproductive. To say that the Consolidation Bill will effectually remedy this state of affairs by enabling the purchaser of one or more shares to apply to have his piece cut out, and a good title given him, is only to point to one of its many useful provisions. Ample facilities are also offered for the clearing up of titles, and the only supposed defect which has been hinted at is, that while making ample provision for all existing difficulties, that it does not clearly and sufficiently define or indicate the exact line upon which future transactions may be conducted. Whilst acknowledging that, owing to the source from which the objection springs, it is undoubtedly entitled to every consideration, yet we are inclined to think that there is little room for fault finding, and we have no hesitation in saying that, providing the measure passes into law, even in an approximate form to its present draft, that, together with the inauguration of a breakwater, it will usher in a lasting and bright period of prosperity for this Bay such as has never yet been experienced, and will entitle the present Ministry to our warmest gratitude.