G.— l

8

not been paid, but which I am certain should be included in the same period, because they consist of vouchers held back for some reason or another, but which, under ordinary circumstances, should have been paid during the period. Therefore I think those liabilities are fairly included, and they show an excess of expenditure over appropriation under this head for the fifteen months of £16,000. I should, hoAvever, observe that there is an item of £800 included which it may be fair to deduct from this amount, because it is for railway fares, and it may be argued that it ought not to appear. But, even supposing that were taken off, the excess of expenditure under this head would be £15,200. x_nd I may go on to say that these are really not all the contingencies, for there are many other items which, under ordinary circumstances, would have been placed under that heading, and Avhich I presume Avould have been placed under it, if the sum had not been so large. In the Statement, so far, I have purposely avoided all mention of the Land Purchase Department. That branch of the department has assumed such magnitude that I think it deserves to be kept apart, and receive separate treatment in my Statement. Honorable members aaull remember that I placed upon the table a few days ago a return showing these purchases in very considerable detail. I haA'e also had a sketch map prepared Avhich slioavs roughly the position of the various purchases on the "West Coast since 1870, and that I Avill also lay on the table. I must caution honorable members that it is not strictly accurate, because a great many of these so-called purchases ha\"e not been surveyed; but it will give a general idea of where the blocks lie. Honorable members will remember that this system of purchasing land from the Maoris was initiated afresh, if I may say so, in 1870 by resolution of this House. It assumed considerable dimensions under the Government Avhich preceded the late GoA rernment, and betAveen two and three years ago it had got into a position and assumed a form Avhich became very distasteful to members of this House and to the public. It was generally felt that, in the form in which it then existed, it ought to be stopped. The form that then existed, I may say, was, for the most part, purchase by commission. That system is supposed to be abandoned. Although it is not quite abandoned, it is so to a large extent. It was understood, I think, in 1877, Avhen the late Government came into poAver, that the system of purchasing land from the Maoris was really stopped —-that it should not go on to a considerable extent. That may be fairly gathered from the amendment which was proposed by my honorable friend and colleague for Wanganui (Mr. Ballance) to the Native Land Bill of the then Government, and which found support from a large majority of the members of this House. I think that indicated that the purchase of land from the Maoris Avas substantially to cease. However, it has been renovated in a form, and lately it has been going on to a considerable extent. It has been said, and I believe it has been generally felt, that these landpurchase transactions are not a success, commercially speaking; but it has been argued that, although not a success commercially, still they are a success for the settlement of the country. Now, I argue in this Avay : that, if they are a success commercially, that fact will indicate that they Avill be a success for the settlement of the country. I go further, and say that, if they are not a success commercially, they will not be a success for the settlement of the country. I will explain what I mean, and it can all be summarized in two words. If the land bought is good, it will cause the settlement of the country; if the land bought is bad, it will not promote the settlement of the country. At considerable trouble, and Avith assistance for which I cannot be too thankful, I haA re had prepared a return of the land purchases in the North Island since 1870. Whether this return proves interesting to the House or not, it Avill be found highly instructive. I refer to it particularly to illustrate the point I have summarized—namely, that if the land bought is good it will promote the settlement of the country, and will be a commercial success ; but if it is not good it Avill not promote settlement, and Avill not be a commercial success. I think that is a position Avhich all the records we have, or are likely to have, will prove. This statement that I am about to refer to deals with land Avhich has not only been bought from the Maoris, but has actually been handed over to the Waste Lands Boards of the various provincial districts for sale. In the Auckland Provincial District, in 1874,