LAND QUESTION FIRST.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13756, 23 June 1913, Page 4

LAND QUESTION FIRST.

Land legislation comes first on the Government's list. The law relating; to pastoral leases is to bo amended; considerably, and it has also been found necessary to make alterations with th<fc object of more easily working Sir Jos* eph Ward's land settlement financoscheme. Allied with this subject i«. that of rates on Native land.. Th«* Government is sympathetic to a proposal that Maoris should take the &am& responsibility as Europeans in respect to local rating. The Native Minister lias declared for tho princip.o, and! the Prime Minister has long maintained it. Changes requiring legislation any also to be made in the administration of the Native Land Itepa-rtment, ana the land courts.