Land-settlement of the Maoris.

Maori Record : a journal devoted to the advancement of the Maori people, Volume 2, Issue 15, 1 September 1906, Page 23

Land-settlement of the Maoris.

THE PREMIER’S PROGRAMME. On the third reading of the “ Maori Lands Settlement Act 1905,” members expressed disappointment that nothing had been done to further the promises of the Premier made at Rotorua. Mr. Herries said:— “The Premier delivered a speech at Rotorua, in which he enunciated a new Native-land policy. I did not find much fault _ with that policy, because it was practically the same as my own—it is practically the Opposition Native-land policy. But I do not find much of that policy in that Bill. And that is what I complain of—that the best parts of that policy, those with respect to individualisation and facilities of exchange—unfortunately there is nothing dealing with those points in this Bill.” “The Hon. Mr. Carroll:—That must come in another Bill.” “Mr, Herries;—l suppose we must wait for another session . . .” Well, we have another session upon us, and alas! without the commanding presence of the author of the Native policy which _ the Natives, and apparently the Opposition, equally with (he loyal of the late Premier’s supporters, wish to witness the early materialisation. As Mr. Merries

said, “It came as a disappointment that the Premier’s Native-land policy was not carried out” in the Act of 1905. The best portions of that Act, those which give the Governor power to purchase but make mandatory the clauses providing for a sufficiency of land for the Natives, whilst provisions are made for advancing money to Natives to enable them to work their holdings, owe their origin to the Premier whilst the rest had the Native Minister for author. They were brought down by message from the Governor after the Bill had passed its second reading and run the gauntlet in the Native Affairs Committee. The completing of the programme of Rotorua “must come in another Bill,” as was promised by the Native Minister, and the melancholy demise of its author increases the obligations of a grief-stricken Parliament to look to its early consumation by an Act of the legislature. The session now sitting promises to be short, and probably no time will be found for dealing in a thorough manner with so important a measure, and it had better remain untouched for the present than be dealt with hurriedly. But there should be a distinct understanding that at the earliest possible opportunity the justice which has lagged tardily through the decades of time since justice was promised shall be meted out to the Maori people in the way promised by the late Hon. Mr. Seddon.

It will not do to linger long for cogent reasons. The late Minister for Lands informed an interviewer of the press that a Bill dealing with “landless Maoris” would be one of the few measures of the present session. The longer the delay, it is possible that the larger will be the number of landless Natives, or at least of Natives insufficiently provided for. It is acknowledged that as a measure facilitating the alienation of the Maoris’ land to the Europeans, to Government or settler direct, the Act of 1905 is a signal success. It follows therefore that largely increased alienation will ensue and less land will be left for the settlement of the Natives. Previous to the passing of the Act, land purchase had been by no means at a standstill, though it was thought so difficult of acquisition. The late Premier thus stated the position : —

“The fact is, you have had 350,000 acres, the alienation of which, by the reoval of restrictions, has been approved by the Government. The removal of restrictions means that the Europeans have obtained the right to occupy, some by purchase, most by leasing. In addition to that, the Government have acquired from the Natives 2,650,000 acres. There you have, in round numbers, three million acres of Native land that have been dealt with and thrown open for settlement by the Government during this period.” (Since

Now all restrictions are removed by the Act of 1905, and without any adequate restraint on sales, Natives may part with their landed inheritance before the loans

necessary to make them farmers, as promised in the late Premier’s policy, are available.

Almost the last time the Premier spoke on Native matters he enlarged on this part of his Rotorua policy. It was when speaking to the third reading of the Maori Lands for Settlement Act,” on October 13th, 1905. Speaking of his policy, he said: — “The honourable member for the Bay of Plenty has said this policy is consonant with his views; but he expressed his regret that we have not gone to the full length in this Bill indicated by me at Rotorua. But we must sever the administrative from the legislative part of the Native-land proposals, inasmuch as regards the question of the stamp duties and the facilities for exchange. We have some Maoris holding land along the West Coast; the same owners hold land in the North of Auckland. You have in the King-country exactly the same position. The Maoris themselves—the owners —can do nothing with it. It is no use to them, and the sooner you give legislative power to set up an authority, the highest in the land, and to get these exchanges made, the better. The lands of those in the south who have lands in the north will be given to the Natives in the north, and the lands in the south belonging to Natives in the north will be exchanged to the Natives in the south; and by that means you will be able to give areas of land on which to put as owners Natives who are now practically landless so far as occupation is concerned, and who are living a miserable existence, while if Europeans had the same area of land they would be considered wealthy. I say the time has come when close settlement is necessary, and we must break the ice and facilitate these exchanges. It can only be done with a constituted authority, with great powers given to them to insure justice being done to the Native owners in these exchanges. And after you have got these exchanges we can make an advance with the surplus lands which will be astounding to the House and to the country. This cannot be done without money, and we shall ask for that. But before I finally conclude my remarks I wish to say we want to get the natives on the land. Individualisation is all very well, but unless you go further you will not progress very much. You must take the Native by the hand, almost as you would a stranger from the Old Country who is becoming a settler in this country, in order to make farmers of them, and by doing that and freeing them from that communal existence which is forced on them by poverty— Mr. MASSEY. —By the Government. The Right Hon. Mr. SEDDON.—No; how can we be responsible when the Native Land Courts have apportioned the lands like a chess-board; You must road the lands; you must put the landless Maoris on some of the lands—lease them from their owners, lease them to their fellow-Maoris; allow Maori owners to

occupy their lands; put them in a position to cultivate them; and when you have done that I say you will have such prosperity and settlement in such a way promoted in the North Island that it will be astounding to Parliament and ail concerned.”

This is the legacy of work left to the Legislature by the late Premier; his legacy of love to the Maoris.