A RACE OF NATIVE LANDLORDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1092, 3 April 1911, Page 4

A RACE OF NATIVE LANDLORDS.

. e The Acting-Prime Minister has a happy knack of saying the right thing—or at least appearing to do so. At the Native gathering at Papawai on Friday last he is reported to have said to his Native brethren: "You have asked me what to do with your land. I say work it," and in the course of his elaboration of this advice ho pointed . out . how the Maoris in certain district's had demonstrated their ability,to give effect to it. Mr. Carroll, as we have pointed out on previous occasions, is a clever .man and an excellent judge of mankind. He has far more natural talent than any other member of the Cabinet, and it was because Mr. Seddon was fully aware of, and had profited by, his sound judgment on political issues, and because Sir Joseph Ward also has learned to appreciate his diplomacy and skill in political tactics, that this indolent and seemingly superfluous member of the Cabinet has maintained a position of such influence in the counsels of the Government.- Mr. Carroll has developed to a fine art the practice of saying the right thing, and keeping it steadily in view. He seldom does the right thing politically—that is from the country's point of viewbut he is so amiable in his neglect and so pleasantly plausible in his explanations that.no one ever becomes really angry with him. To a great many people he is even now a big,' good-natured, simple Maori gentleman, a charming speaker when not too indolent to make a speech, and troubling very little about politics or anything else. Those who so judge him fall into serious error. He certainly possesses some of the characteristics enumerated, but ho is the finest political strategist the country possesses. For nearly 20 years he has quietly played with Parliament and the country; even his colleagues probably have not fully fathomed the deep and earnest purpose which has guided his actions as Native Minister. With all his seeming carelessness and laissez-faire methods he has succeeded in spoonfeeding a race of Native landowner* whose idle lands have increased, and ire increasing, in value as the result of the efforts of the white settlers and the expenditure of public moneys to which the Native race contribute so little in the way of rates and taxes. Settlement has been retarded and the progress of the country has been checked by this policy, but the Native landowners, without any effort on their own part, have grown wealthy, and bid fair to become a race of. landlords who will draw—arc drawing already in many cases—heavy tribute from their white tenants. Of course there arc Natives who are farming their own land?, and who have contributed something towards the development of the country; but they are a small proportion of the whole. At Papawai, when telling bis Native brethren to work their lands, and promising them assistance in the way of advances, he advised (hem first of all to avoid delay in getting their land titles in order. How long is it since that advice was first given to the Native landownersl As far back as one's memory goes difficulties associated with Native land titles have been a stumbling-block to settlement and progress. It is true that more recently Mr. Cahkoi.l has shown some readiness to put into practice certain of the admirable precepts which lie has so eloquently preached during his long Ministerial career, and we give him such credit as is bis due therefor. Bui, when (Jib past is reviewed it is really a very remarkable thing lo find how long and how successfully the Native Minister has managed to resist the pressure that has been brought ti> bear in the endeavour to turn to profitable account the huge areas of idle Native lands. Mr. Carroll's advice to the Natives to work their lands is sound,, and no doubt it ia

the very best thing they could do if they study their own welfare. But we doubt if it is really necessary for a large proportion of them to do any work at all. They have developed into a race of landlords, and can live on the rents of their white tenants.