The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 1910. LOCKED-UP LANDS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 2 April 1910, Page 2

The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 1910. LOCKED-UP LANDS.

HASTiiiY-roiiMKi) conclusions are apt to be misleading, and for that reason the present writer has hesitated to speak of what, at a casual glance, seems to be one of the most imperative needs for the Horowhe•n u a County. That new! is a speedy utilitsation of the splendid lands in the vicinity of the several towns of the country, which are at present locked- up or only halfworked. J.ho theory of native land reservation for protection of the Maoris from indigence, is an excellent one, but there is need for better application of the principle. A provision to allow of Native reserve lands being fully utilised is theexact thing required; at present there are so many very valuable acres of farm and dairy lands lying uncultivated that the progress of the whole district has been very much less than it might have been. The proved capacity of the Horowhenua County for intensive culture is an additional reason why full use- of the district lands should be insisted upon; for it is by this procedure alone that the full effectiveness of the county can be secured. Those doubters who'say that the Horowhenua. District will be always handicapped by tlie comparative narrowness of its belt oi flat lands are reasoning on false premises, for the astonishing richness of the dairying pastures is great enough to make rip for the difference in available acres between the Hflrowhenna and (say) the AYairarapa district. While we have lands worth up to £C 0 par acre on a basis of actual cash returns from dairying and stock raising, there needs be no intricate calculations made to show that the thousands of acres that can bemad© available will be ample to support a population of tens upon 'tens of thousands, some day. And, further, the actual acreage available is by no means inconsiderable. That, time may bo comparatively 'far-' removed { ~ but it is quit©' ;

to the present inhabitants to hasten its arrival by keeping in tho i forefront of district needs the very important one of closer settlement, which can be best obtained by lighteningthe more irksome restrictions in regard to Native lands removed. Seasonable agitation to t this end is desirable; and in this case- seasonable is synonomons with persistent. The Government has at times foreshadow*:! legislation to improve the law in regard to Native lands throughout tho whole of New Zealand. It should be the care of every citizen of those parts to see that the dominion's Administrators •do not allow the matter to sink into oblivion, a iteinptation not unlikely to he-set them, now that two sessions'of Parliament will have to pass by before another general election falls due.