The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 26, 1902. TRUST ESTATES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 511, 26 August 1902, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 26, 1902. TRUST ESTATES.

Press messages from Wellington state that it is intended to push the East Coast Native Trust Lands Bill through with all urgency, as if it were a Government measure that must bo hastily dealt with. It may well be asked why there should be such haste to force this measure through before the people of this district have had an opportunity of finding out what the proposed legislation really consists of. The Acting-Premier intends trying to put the measure through all stages of the Lower House in the one day, and an effort is to bo made to get the Legislative Council to pass the Bill to-morrow. The only explanation given is a hint that unless tho arrangement is completed before Friday the Bank will proceed with the sale. Such a hint only makes the movement harder to understand. It was previously made to appear that the Bank had heartily entered into tho arrangement. If that was really the ease why should the Bank now adopt such an attitude ? There is need for an explanation, and this district, which is so much concerned, is entitled to clear information when such measures are being forced through tho House. These matters are not merely between the Trustees and the Bank ; vast areas of land are affected, and tho district and colony are deeply concerned in this matter. The meagre information to hand gives the impression that, not only is a great policy of Maori landlordism being established, but that it is to be done largely at the expense of the colony. The ostensible object of the Bill is to save the lands from a sale that has long been threatened and long been delayed, but that does not wholly account for the feverish haste in regard to this Bill. There is need for fuller information on these subjects.