MR CARROLL INTERVIEWED,

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 289, 13 December 1901, Page 3

MR CARROLL INTERVIEWED,

GOVERNMENT NATIVE POLICY. m | Special to Times. | ' Wellington, last night. An interesting interview with the Nativo Minister on the subject of Bottling Native lands is published in to-night’s Post. Mr Carroll, who basos his opinions largely on the result of his recent sojourn among the Natives of Wanganui river settlements, where ho witnessed what was practically the inauguration of the now policy, expresses tho boliof that, considered along with tho broad lines of policy indicated by tho Nativo legislation of the Government, tho country might hopo for a simple yet comprehensive method of dealing with Nativo lands. Tho colony is parcelled into so many districts, and for each district thoro is a Land Administration Board, of which tho Maoris of the district elect three rnombers, and the Govornment nominate throo others, one of whom must bo a Maori with a European Chairman, making sovon in all. That Council administers all land in tho district that may bo transferred to it. It can also perform tho work of tho Nativo Land Court in tho investigation of titles and the settlement of land claims, if so directed by the Chief Judge. Government is appointing Nativo Land Court Judges as ProBidents of thoso Councils ; and in some cases in Native districts Stipendiary Magistrates who have performed Nativo Land Court work. That will give, so far as tho Nativo Land Court is concerned, a definite area in which the Court can carry out its functions, instead of as heretofore Judges moving about all over tho country, indeJinitoly from placo to place, at great exponso of time and money. At tho saino timo, being in touch with tho Natives and tlioir laud, they can easily prosido over tho Board of tho district in carrying out Nativo land administration. A further advantage may accrue when tho Maori land district is identical with the Crown land district. There is nothing to provent both Boards working together in harmony, and being imbued with oach other’s policy towards a common end. When these largo areas are handed over every provision will bo made by Councils to sot apart rosorvos for the owners, and areas which they will improve and utilise for their own benefit, so that ovoiy provision is made to provont tho Natives becoming landless, whilo stimulating to industrial pursuits and throwing open vast areas for settlement by European lessees.