More About the Gum Act.

Observer, Volume XVIII, Issue 1070, 1 July 1899, Page 10

More About the Gum Act.

(To the Editor).

Dbab Observer,— Much pleased to Bee the stand yon have taken against the abases of the Gam Act. What a lot of wooden-headed, obtuse county councillors there seem to be in New Zealand, to be sure. I had hoped this county (Hokianga) alone produced men capable of repudiating the lights of private property. Yet the Act plainly 'states that not only the owner, bnt also the occupier, of native or other land. is exempt in every respect from the provisions of the Act— so, at least, I read it, and it seems plain enough English.

It is noticeable that oar ranger does not enter on or demand licensea on native land from those found working thereon, bnt contents himself with annoying the storekeeper baying this gam. The gam mast be carried off the land to market, which $£ct evidently has the effect of transforming it into Crown or county property.

Here is an instance out of many : I was supplying a native digging on native land with goods. ' Later, he broaght his gum for sale. I had to tell him I could not buy it unless he bought a license.. This he refused to do. It was taken to another store (same county) and sold without a license. Presently the ranger heard of the transaction and inquired into the matter. The storekeeper got the alternative of buying this license at his own expense or taking the consequences. Some days latex the same party took another parcel to yet another store, when precisely the same scene was enacted. Each storekeeper forked out his 5s for a special license fox this man, who had dug the gum sold on native property, and who is now the happy possessor of two licensee, for neither of which he had made or signed an application as required by the Act.

Another picture. The adjoining county doeß not impose licenses on natives digging on native property. The native land ' referred to above adjoins the other county, bat is wholly in this, and is not far from stores where the buyers ask for no licenses. The Maoris, indignant at their rights being infringed here, naturally take their gam hence. This was tried to be stopped by warnings against the buyers if they bought gam from this county without the seller having a license. The district constable was also requested to keep a bright lookout on both buyers and sellers, inspect gum registers and report. To his chagrin, these buyers merely laughed at the farce and went on with their business. I think, had the ranger attempted to stop the Maoris in transit with gum, he would still have been laughed at, ii nothing worse befel him, the intermediate land being all native. Faibplay. Kaikohe, June 20th, 1899.