SETTLING NATIVE LANDS,

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 293, 18 December 1901, Page 2

SETTLING NATIVE LANDS,

MR CARROLL'S VISIT TO THE

NORTH.

(Special to Times.) Auckland, last night. The Hon. Mr Carroll is expected from the South shortly en route for Waikato, in connection with the Maori Council. The visit is looked forward to with great interest. The morning journal, referring to the subject, says : “ We hope this will be the beginning of a process bv which the Maoris all over the North Island will take procedure under the Act. The conditions aro very favorable to them, for they can either sell or lease. Provision is made that they shall receive the full benefit. It is perhaps not desirable that Government should assume the position of urging Maoris to bring their lands under the Act, hut the Native Minister can do much by visiting the different districts, explaining the procedure to be taken, and smoothing those differences which are apt to arise between different tribes and hapus. There is still a considerable area of land in the interior and in the western part of the King Country which could be made available for settlement under the Act. Most of this would be readily taken up and occupied. The settlement of the Government land which will shortly be thrown open, and the reading of the country, will greatly facilitate operations. On the East Coast, there are complications arising from the troubles left by the East Coast Land Company, but even in that quarter there are lands that might be dealt with.”