Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 1885. Native Lands and Colonisation.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1717, 7 August 1885, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 1885. Native Lands and Colonisation.

Mu Ballance’s new Bill for (tailing with native lands lias undergone some scathing attacks during t he debate on the motion for its second reading. Nor have the attacks been made only against the measure before the House. On the contrary, the whole native poj'if-v of the Government has been assailed and condemned during the debate referred to. We have always distrusted the policy adopted by Mr Ballanco towards the natives. The former Native Minister, Mr Bryce, was firm and determined, but rigidly just in his dealings with the Maori race. He altogether scouted the idea thnthey possessed any special privileg s, and told them in the plainest terms that in every respect they were subject to British laws and must obey them. When To Whiti, Tohunnd Titokowaru became “ bouu ciblo,’' Mr Bryce called out tho volunfc s, put a stop to the goings on at rarihaka, and locked up Te Whiti and evvry other native who was likely to prove troublesome. By the adoption ot tlmse firm end vigorous measures M ‘ Berea stamped out all danger of a native rebellion and secured the permanent peace of tho country. When Mr Ballanco got into power ho adopted an entirely difterent linn of action. Ho travelled throughout tho length and breadtli of tho native districts, and held meetings with tho Maoris everywhere. At those mootings Mr Balknce promised everything to everybody, file told the natives that he would give them all sorts of good tilings, and that their lands, which were to ha opened up and enormously increased in value by the construction of railways, would never be taxed by the present or any future Government. Furthermore, Mr Baliauce assured tho natives that power would be given them to elect committees from amongst themselves, ■

which bodies would possess entire control iu disposing of their lands. All these promises of course raised undue expectations in tho minds oc the natives which will never bo realised,, because Parliament and the country will not consent to grant the concessions to which Mr Ballauco pledged himself. Tho outcome of all this is, that the measures of native policy now proposed in Parliament by Mr Ballance are meeting with much opposition and will probably bo rejected. The .Native Lands Disposition Bill is one of those measures. The objections urged against it are of much weight and force. It is contended that under the proposed Act tho natives would not sell their lands but only lease them. That Mr Ballance thought this would be the caso L proved by what ho stated to tho natives iu one of his meetings with them in the Waikato district. On that occasion Mr Ballance said :—“I think it is better for tho interest of tho people that they should lease their land rather than sell it. In tho caso of leasing their land it remains to thorn for ever, and they are enabled to live in ease and comfort. I have noticed with great regret that when land is sold the money is soon parted with, and the money and the land are gone too. How much is any of you the better for any laud you have sold at the present moment ? But where you have leased your land your rents are coming in year by year, and remain with you for ever ; but the Government will give to you the right to say whether you will sell or lease your lands, and assist you in carrying out whatever decision you may arrive at.” Then he added that he was not anxious that the Government should buy lands, and that the Bill to be introduced would assist the natives if they leased their lands. We feel certain that neither Parliament nor the people of this colony desire merely to lease the lands of the natives. Fancy leasing twelve millions of acres of native lauds and setting up the Maoris as enormously wealthy “ lords of the soil ” in the greater part of the North Island, for all time coming. What the colonists desire is to have the oppor tunity of buying these lands outright. The Government should purchase the land from the natives at a just and fair price, so that it could be placed iu the market and rendered available for purchase and settlement by the European population. Of course reserves of laud should be set apart for the natives, so that their future maintenance might he provided for. Mr Ballaneo’s leasing scheme will not do at all. If settlement is to go on in the North Island, the lands held by the natives—save special reserves—must be made available for purchase and settlement. The whole cumbrous machinery of native committees will prove altogether unworkable, while other portions of Mr Ballanco’s Bill are equally objectionable, Wo earnestly trust that this Native Lands Disposition Bill will bo rejected by Parliament.