The Native Land Administration Act.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2066, 11 May 1887, Page 2

The Native Land Administration Act.

Turt natives of the Waimapa have determined to enter their protest the Native Lands Act passed last . eei,... an' will petition Parliament against I ■,,-mu i inure. This Act prevents the natives from de aling with their lands as they think tit. They are not allowed to sell thorn or lease possessions under any circumstances to Europeans ; this is not palatable to the Maoris and they consider, and with good reasoning, that they should be as free to deal with their freeholds as the white settlors in the colony. In this matter no doubt many of the ooloaaists will also agree, as it will not be conducive to the progress of many parts of the colony to reserve the remaining native lands to the Maoris themselves in perpetuity. Thera are many valuable blocks of land at the present lime in the hands of the natives for which thajre could be found purchasers, at a fair and re-asouable price, and the Natives themselves know well (lie value of these lands and are not likely to part with their interests m the ««Q6, without a f air equivalent. Wo must - ‘—•wit that the days of the sugar and all reme... ">» of the past and ovst blanket policy an ... value ol of the abi iiginalu now know i...

money quite as wall a# we do. and in many u;it,i a they will net part with their righto without it suits » un to do so. to the first nr any bidder that i...iy e forward. If tin Native is asked to part wru uis land new nn i thinks be cun ’rivi ■» good bargain in doing so, He is quite an eaniitde i t holding out for a good price as uny European, and qui'e a-< immoveable in sticking to his price. Such being the ease, why ehonld he uot be loft to nauage his own ait lira without any prohibition at all. The Natives at the time present demand to be trialed as men. Many of them are quite equal in intelligence, if not having the polish of many of the white settlois. and they have proved at their recent meetings that tiiey cau most je-tiiuslv watch over and guard their own interests. Tuny are now aiive to the necessity for doing so. and are uot likely to le caught napping in the way of dealing with their property. Mr Buchanan ia bis late, address to his constituents men. (ioue l tins Act as ore having the strong diaappro v il ot tn« Natives in the Wairarapa and elsewhcie. and later events have proved that bo was n dt .i cortec*. in such a statement.

Th. Cart, ' nn V.. sateens inur’d to hold a meatier bail the public hail on the Jubilee night, June 20. A number of the Greytown Volunteers intend to be present.