MAORI LANDLORDISM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 784, 6 April 1910, Page 4

MAORI LANDLORDISM.

THE CURSE OF THE NORTH. DEPUTATION TO HON. R. M'KENZIE. (By Teleeraph.—Special Correspondent.' Auckland, April 5. The Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. M'Kerizie) has had an excellent opportunity during his tour of the north to' grasp something of the greatest problem this province has to deal with —the settlement of the Native difficulty .in tho north. It is said that there are three classes.of land: Native land (which is the best), Crown land (which is next best), and European 1 land (which is the worst). During the Minister's tour a great deal of undeveloped country was traversed, and this was mainly owned by tha Natives. In the Bay of Islands electorate was found the strongest evidence of the manner in which progress is being hindered as the result of the system of Maori landlordism. In this electorate there are some three-quarters of a million acres, of Native land lying idle and .unproductive. Tho patella. is forced into the back; blocks if he wants to settle, and even then he can rarely get land on anything like reasonable terms. Around Ohaeawai and.Kajkoho there are thousands of acres equal to the best- dairying land in _New Zealand growing nothing but noxious weeds. In this huge electorate there is only one small dairy factory. If the country was settled, it would be ablo to boast as big'an output of butter as any country in tho province. The whole countryside is suffering an intolerable burden, the white man having to shoulder tho Natives' responsibilities. To tho credit of the country it has to be said that the roads met with wero the best negotiated on the tour,, but these highways post a lot to maintain,. and tho ourddn of So Kdoing falls to the lot of the European. Despite the fact that 750,fC0 acres, are held under Native titles, the Maoris do not contribute one penny piece per year in rates, nor can they be forced to accept their responsibilities arid pay up. The European settler has to stand the whole cost of forming and maintaining the roads, and has often to run roads for miles through Native land before he can reach his own. The Maoris contribute to the wear and tear, but absolutely refuse to pay anything to keep tho roads in repair. The progress of the district is most sadly retarded, and the question arises as to how much longer settlement is to be blocked and the far north to groan under the iniquities of Maori landlordism. In reply to a Whangarei deputation on this subject, the Minister said that he was fully seized of the seriousness of the position, but he believed more would be done now in bringing about a solution than ever bofors. The Native Land Act of last session was a highly important measure, and provided for spending £500,000 per year in the acquisition of Native- land for European settlement. It would no>v be possible to deal compulsorily where the Natives were not agreeablo. to ordinary overtures. The country was on the eve of new developments as far as the settlement, of the Native land difficulty was concerned. The Act wa-3 now. on the statute book, and so soon as the organisation and machinery wero 'complete, the lands of the north would be dealt with.