LONGSTANDING DISPUTE SETTLED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2954, 14 December 1916, Page 8

LONGSTANDING DISPUTE SETTLED

- A WEST TATJPO PROBLEM. By Telegraph—Press Association. Hamilton, December 13. The Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, effectively settled the policy of self-government of West Taupo County at a conference of settlers at To Awannitu to-day, over which there have been disputes for years. The county is inoperative at present, and tho settlers consequently pay no rates and a section of them all along strenuously opposed the local government proposals. As a result of the conference, however, the more closely settled portions will petition for constitution as road board districts. During the discussion, one delegate stated that in all probability the Native occupiers, by withholding their signatures from the petition, would prevent the necessary two-thirds being obtained, and so obstruct tho formation of road districts. Mr. Russell declared that he .was not the Minister to seek to give tho country the best form of local government and then to allow Natives who did not occupy their Innd a chance- of upsetting things. Speaking as a private individual, and not as a Minister (for he had no power to commit the Government on the question) he was strongly of opinion that the Natives had been allowed to block settlement, too long. If they claimed tho right to a voice on matters affecting- government of the land, and by their influence could overbalance a petition of this nature, then clearly they must expect to pav rates and accept all other responsibilities of ratepayers. He would go further, and say the time had arrived when the Natives should be taxed, for every form of government just as Europeans were.