THE GREAT QUESTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 14, 1 February 1907, Page 3

THE GREAT QUESTION.

Native Lands in the Rohe Potae. No. 111. It was pointed out in last article that the Maori was gradually but surely losing a great portion of his land in the endeavour to have it individualised. This, no doubt, is partly due to the wrangling between the various members of the different tribes, but just as surely is it due to departmental bungling. A case in point is the large Kinohaku block, which was divided into certain areas and awarded to the various tribes interested. These areas were again divided into smaller sections and surveyed. Recently the blocks have been dealt with and surveys were started accordingly. It was then discovered that all the former surveys were wrong and the work had to be done again. The _ Maoris have no remedy, and are obliged to pay. It should be noted that the previous surveys were done by men approved of by the Government; the work was inspected by a Government surveyor and the plans passed by Government. This is only one case, and there are others. I have heard it stated that hardly any of the old surveys are reliable, and when the land comes to be individualised, the old surveys of tribal or family interests have to be gone over in nearly every case. It will be seen, therefore, that the Maori hasjust cause for his complaint that the land is being taken from him, and the nearer he gets to individualisation the less land he has by far. Small wonder that families who can trust each other prefer to hold their interests in common. Under the same conditions the Pakeha who calls so loudly for individualisation, would be strongly tempted to co-operate with his friends against such a systemThere are also many little details which could be made the means of simplifying matters. The exchange of interests from various blocks into one, thereby consolidating the different shares instead of having them scattered. This has been done to advantage in some cases, and, with simpler methods, and quicker machinery than that of the Native Land Department, might easily have been employed to still better effect" A striking case of the abuse of this system occurred with regard to the acquisition of a timber area near Taumarunui. A half-caste, who possessed an acre of land at Cambridge, arranged'for the purchase of about 300 acres of land carrying totara timber. This was effected by the halfcaste exchanging his acre at Cambridge for the 300 acres at Taumarunui. The difference in value was, of course, made up in cash. The department which allows of such a contravention of the spirit of the law, is hardly calculated to inspire confidence in all respects. Another difficulty in the individualisation of titles, or the consolidation of interests arises from the fact that it is customary with the Natives to assume different names at certain times. Thus a Maori may hold interests in one block under one name, while other interests are held under other names. This is misleading to the Pakeha, and is a serious obstacle in dealing with the land. However, to catalogue all the difficulties, and details, in dealing with Native interests would be superfluous. Matters have been allowed to drift into such a state that great difficulties have to be overcome, in order to deal equitably with the various interests. The conclusion forced upon those who wish to see the least hardship to all, and who have the interests and progress of the King Country at heart is, briefly, that the Government should take over all the Maori lands which are not being cultivated and either pay fair value for them, or administer them in the interests of the owners. All Maori owners who were competent to hold their lands and use them, could be given the option of having their interests individualised within a certain time. When that was done the owners should be placed on exactly the same footing as their Pakeha neighbours. They would have to pay rates, and keep their farms clear of noxious weeds, and pests of all descriptions. Give these people the right of disposing of their property, and make them subject to the Pakeha laws. By this means the remaining Maoris would receive fair value for their land, without having to part with a large portion of it for useless pourt expenses, and surveys, apd those who were able to work their land for their own benefit would fce made to feel their responsibilities, and in the majority of giases would jystify their claim to the same treatment as the Pakeha. The idea of the Maori parting with his land and becoming a burden on the state has been diligently circulated by people whe either do not understand the position, or who for various reasons do not wish for an alteration in the present state of things. Many Natives already are practically landless, and the majority of these work for their living; others who own land are practically in the same position. They have no capital to work their land, and receive no return from it; the state does not keep these people ; they maintain' themselves, and will continue to so. ' Moreover if the country settled, there would be abundance of work for those who_ quired it, and they would be in a much better position than they are at present. This is a point that has consistently overlooked.