The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious political. TUESDAY, SEPT. 6, 1892

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3152, 6 September 1892, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious political. TUESDAY, SEPT. 6, 1892

It is stated to be the intention of Sir George Grey to introduce a Bill to give the natives the power to form corporate bodies for the management of their own local affairs. The effect would be to neutralize the preponderating power of the hereditary chiefs, who at the present time exercise despotic power within their own settlements. He proposes to vest in these bodies the right to deal with all landsheld in common, the Councils to be elected by the Hapus much on the principle which prevails with our local self governing institutions, with power to make by-laws and impose local taxes for the prosecution of public works and defray the cost of administration. There can _be no question but that the natives, at ; any rate the intelligent portion of them, appreciate the good which is done by our County Councils and Road Boards and will avail themselves of the powers which it is proposed to give them. We believe that they are quite ripe to take this first step upwards from the primitive state of existence, in which the voice of the people is not heard and the will of the chiefs is paramount over all. Once give the rank and file the right to speak and power to enforce their will, it will be a contradiction of tradition and history if they do not very soon take an intelligent interest in the management of their own affairs. Recognising this probability it is clearly our duty to help the aboriginals on to this first step of the ladder which all civilised people have climbed before them, some of whom have reached the topmost rung and others are still gradually working their way upwards. The most; important provision of the Bill is that which vests in the proposed Councils the power to deal with the lands which are now common property, and give the action they may take the sanction of the law. It is manifest that the natives are incapable of managing the large estates they hold with full bsneht to themselves or the commonwealth, it is therefore of first importance that the areas which they cannot utilize should pass to the control of Europeans, either by lease of sale. The great difficulty hitherto has been to ascertain the rightful owners and the proportion of the proceeds of lease or sale which should accrue to each person interested. The Native Land Court has certainly proved a tedious and expensive process ef arriving at approximate justice. It may be urged that native councils are not likely to be more successful, this may or may not be so, but there is this in their favour ; that any injustice will be inflicted by those elected by the votes of all concerned and no charge will lay at the door of Parliament. At the present time all native lands are free from general or local taxation, that they will always remain so is not to be expected, but under existing circumstances to tax means gradual confiscation, for the reason that the land is not utilized or so only to a very limited degree. It is fair to presume that placing the power to dispose of the land iu elective councils will have the effect of bringing about the passing of the land to Europeans much more rapidly than is likely to be the case under any system of Government nursing, more particularly with the clause "in force that all transactions shall take place in open day before the eyes of all interested. Further, in the event of a council meeting to utilize, or dispose of the land under its control, there will be a tangible body to bring to reason by any means that may appear most desirable. If the land produces little or nothing the only temptation to hold is clearly to pocket the unearned increment, which has been created at the cost of the taxpayers. It is the presence of the Pakehas which has given the land any value either to lease or sell; we mention this incidentally, not as a reason to urge for confiscation by taxation or forcible seizure. There is no immediate hurry, there is yet plenty of land for settlement for some time to come. Establish Sir George Grey's councils and await the result. If this is not satisfactory, we believe it would prove otherwise, it will be time enough to consider what action shall be taken. It is perfectly manifest that when the land is really required for settlement the existing state of affairs will no longer be allowed to prevail.