THE MAORI LANDS.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13143, 27 June 1911, Page 1

THE MAORI LANDS.

Mr. Massey and his - followers have been stating persistently that six milmion acres of Maori lands are lying idle—"locked against settlement" — as a result of the inactivity of the Government, and they have suggested, by inference at any rate, that there woiild be land for all if a change of administration were effected. We ("Lyttelton Times") hope that the leader of the Opposition will not disregard the challenge which was issued to him by Mr. Carroll at Carterton tho other night to say where these great empty areas are to be found. In 1900, when checks were imposed on tho alienation of Native lands, it was estimated that the Maori race retainod about 5,000,000 acres of land in the country that once had been its own. The total estate amounted to not very much more.than 100 acres a head of the Maori- people. Since that time energetic stops have been taken to bring these lands into profitable occunation, and Mr. Carroll isable to report that 1,700,000 acres of Native land have been settled in the last fivo or six years by sale and lease. It is small wonder that he wants Mr. Massey to describe tho location of the 6,000,000 acres of "waste lands." Wo hope that before many weeks have olapsed the people of the southern centres will be given an opportunity to hear the truth about the Native j land question from thelins of the Act- | ing-Prime Minister himself. The ! brief summary of his speech at Car- ■ torton shows how well able he is to : defend his own department and tho Government, when once his amiable ■ disinclination to reply to tho attacks i of his political opponents has been I overcome. It is a great bity that tho ' people of this end of the Dominion i should need to bo told that Mr Car- ■ roll is one of the most accomplished ' and effective public speakers in New \ Zealand. !