NATIVE LANDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1557, 13 September 1905, Page 2

NATIVE LANDS.

THE PREMIER’S SPEECH.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, last night. ' Borne references to tbe native land question were made by the Premier to a deputation from Levin, who urged on the Government the neoossity of bringing into profitable occupation native lands now lying idle, and especially certain areas unutilised in Levin distriot. Mr Seddon said I the question brought before him by the deputation opened up the whole of the native land policy. He did not hesitate to say that the time was not far distant when something must be done towards settling the waste lands of the natives. His great difficulty was in getting the natives themselves to see that the present condition of things could not long continue. The natives were naturally oon servative so far as their lands were concerned. Altogether the native land question was in a very unsatisfactory position. The setting up of Maori Lands Councils was an attempt to solve the difficulty, and he believed that given time and with condence restored among the natives, the Councils would do something in the direction of solving the difficulty. They were not very far now, he hoped, from a successful solution, but they must carry the natives with them. He mentioned a block of native land in the Auckland distriot, behind wbioh were a number of Europeans—he could put his hands upon them—making eeoret arrangements with i the natives, and if the land were thrown open to-morrow they should be confronted with difficulties. Some l of these people Btood to moko from £SOOO to £IO,OOO apiece. He did not think that was right to the natives. Certain people who bad got hold of native land by illegal agreements, and were making thousands, wanted to keep things ae tbey|were.