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Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3869, 29 July 1873, Page 2

In another column we publish a memorandum from the Tavanaki members to the Government on the subject of the administration of the confiscated lands in that province. It conveys a proposal that all the land acquired by the Government should be administered by provincial authority. It points out the anomaly of two Governments exercising the same functions in the same province ; but this argument, although plausible, has not much special force. A similar state of things obtains in Southland, in which province the General Government administers such of the waste lands as are held by it as security for the provincial" debt taken ' over by the colony. The confiscated ; lands are lands forfeited by right of conquest, which was only secured by heavy expenditure by the colony as a , whole. We fail to see any pretence for a right on the part of the province of Tavanaki to the confiscated lands within its boundaries, but we are willing to admit that the proposals now made recommend themselves on the grounds that they are reasonable and are likely, in a most convenient matmer, to secure the greatest practical utilisation of the confiscated territory. It is suggested that for the future the administration of these lands shall vest in the provincial authorities by means of a board, consisting of the Superintendent of the province, the local Commissioner of Crown Lands, and two other members, one to be nominated by the Snperintendent and the other by the Governor. With respect to this proposal, we cannot avoid remarking that practically the Provincial Government will exercise as much authority in the board as if no board were created. The Superintendent has one seat, his nominee has another, and the Crown Lands Commissioner, who, although nominally an officer of the General Government, is ♦irtually under the influence of the Provincial Government, has a third : — the only entirely impartial representative of the General Government is the fourth man. Why not at once vest the whole matter in the hands of the provincial authorities who would be subject to the watchfulness of the Provincial Council ? We point this out simply as being worth consideration should the memorandnm come to anything. It is further proposed that one half the moneys derived during the past financial year, less expenses of sale and survey ; and that Jtbe whole proceeds of sale during the current year, less similar deductions, should be credited to the province. There is a provision however that it shall remain with the General Government in its discretion to fix the proportion which shall be expended upon public works. The province undertakes on its part, should the proposals be agreed to, to settle all claims in respect of the lands handed over to it. .„■ .Taking. a general, view of this matter, we consider that the proposal is reasonable, and asks for no unfair advantage ; and we do not anticipate that either the Government or the House will raise any serious objections to the arrangement. As the memorandum shows, no political power is asked for, and it is admitted that dealings with natives for the peaceable acquisition of lands within the confiscated boundary should still remain in, the hands of the General Government. All that is asked for jb that the province alone shall administer such blocks of land as shall from time to time be handed over by the Government as capable of being peaceably occupied. The main object the proposers have in view is, that out of the proceeds of the saleable land due pro vision shall be made for rendering the back lands accessible and available for settlement. The arguments advanced in favour of the proposal are, we think, unanswerable • and if substantially carried out will settle the vexed question of the administration of the confiscated land. The proposal is now under the consideration of the Government ; and we think we are correct in stating that ' it will receive a large amount of support if brought before the House.