Native Lands

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 140, 6 May 1886, Page 2

Native Lands

The Wanganui Herald, in an article published on Tuesday last on the speech made by Mr Ormond on the Native Land Policy of the Government, is very severe. We quote the following passages aa being of interest to those who are supporters of the liberal policy followed by the Hon. Mr Ballance as Native Minister. The writer says that Mr Orjioud could only condemn it as a whole, without pointing out any specific action which lie disapproved of. The Herald carries the war into th& enemy's country thus : — " Let any one read Mr Smith's speech delivered at the end of last session, and there see how cleverly Mr Oemond has for years managed to protect his own interests, and to escape burdens that less selfish colonists have borne without a murmer. He does not like the Property Tax because it dips too deeply into his pocket, and his estimate of the value of some of his property was so modest that the authorities had to draw his attention to the matter, and hint that if he did not place a higher value on certain properties, they would exercise the Crown prerogative of taking them plus ten per cent., as provided by the Act. This had the desired effect, and the valuations were amended. But Mr Okmond is angry with the Government and their works. He had no fault to find with their Native Policy until they rose the Property Tax last session; then he saw how utterly unfit they 'were to hold office, even for a single day ! His waspish acrid temper causes him to quarrel with even his best friends, and no party can count on his allegiance for even a single sitting of the House." , Further on the Herald says : — " The Government want the Maoris first to get their titles and their shares allocated so that they may know exactly what each individual owns, and how much he can spare, if any; and secondly, to deal with the surplus in the same way as the waste lands of the colony, handing the net proceeds of the sale over to its rightful owner. Were this done there could be no such wholesale deceptions . and worse worked off on the native owners as has so often been the case in the past." If the present Native Minister succeeds in carrying out this policy he will deserve well of his country.