GOVERNMENT DEALINGS WITH MAORI LANDS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 32, 31 May 1907, Page 3

GOVERNMENT DEALINGS WITH MAORI LANDS.

From a Maori Point of View.

[By Arthur S. Ormsby.]

" Man's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn." The solution of the Native Land Question having now arrived at a most acute stage (through the land hunger of the Pakeha), perhaps some observations from one who has keenly watched (from the Maori side) the progress of Government dealings with Native lands in the Rohe Potae, or King Country may be of interest. Prior to the time the Hon. J. Bryce entered, and passed right through the district, it was practically tabooed to the Pakeha, the Natives desiring to be left severely alone well-knowing that complications with the Pakeha would bring disaster in its train. The differences that gradually led up to, and eventually culminated in war, were still vividly before their eyes, and consequently they were wary. Vain delusion! Pakeha agitation, long and persistent; the " Flour and Sugar Policy," and fair promises, eventually had effect, and the tribes under the lead of Wahanui te Huatare decided to open peaceably the way to progress. Knowing their limitations, however, as a preliminary step,'.Wahanui and his people by a petition dated 26th June, 1883, asked for benevolent legislation to protect them from " land sharks " and to give effect to a scheme outlined therein for the settlement of their surplus lands. The Government partly responded to this appeal by restricting the private " land shark," but leaving the way open to the " father of them all." However, on the advice of the Hon. John Bryce, Sir Robert Stout, the Hon. John Balance and others, it was agreed to go on with the investigation of titles, by the Land Court. They were advised further that by doing so they would be able to make more profitable use of their

lands, and that the construction of roads and railways would enhance their value. From so much evidence of good will from the Pakeha rangatiras, the Maori chiefs surrendered their mana over these lands to the Native Land Court, and gave the land for the Main Trunk Line. No sooner, however, had the Land Court settled the tribal boundaries than the " father of Maori land sharks " began to show his hand in real earnest. The authority of the chiefs destroyed, it was easy to approach the individual Maori, and the simpletons and fools, charmed with the jingle of the Pakeha's yellow god, soon yielded their birth-right to the Land Purchase Officers. Land Court expenses and survey charges began to accumulate, and with all avenues to progressive settlement closed, all were forced more or less, to sacrifice an enormous area at pittances of from 2s 6d to 7s per acre These same lands are now eagerly sought after, and readily purchased at from £2 to £5 per acre. As an example, about seven years ago the Natives were offered ten shillings per acre for the block on which the Te Kuiti township is situated, but the owners wisely refused to sell, and, as a result, the Government, last year, had to pay about £l2O per acre for land in this very township, and not in the best part of it either. For the very worst portions of this block they are now paying £l per acre, and for the fair, to good portions, private buyers will pay from £4 to £lO per acre, unimproved. So it has gone on for twenty years, and the Rohe Potae Natives, from being owners of three million acres of land, are now reduced to about half-a-million acres. Large numbers are landless, more are practically so, and a few have plenty. Yet the cry of " Unoccupied Native lands " waxes louder and louder, and probably, in some sections, nothing but the very last acre will satisfy. Perhaps the prospect of 40,000 pauperised Natives may raise the cry of " halt " at last, although recent speeches by the Act-ing-Premier, and the Minister for Lands, do not give any indication that they fear any such contingency. As I have already stated, the Native gave the land for the North Island Main Truck Railway, and also _for

some roads, but this was not sufficient. The element of " take " was introduced by means of the Land Court Act, whereby the Native Land Court is empowered to confiscate five per cent, of any unoccupied Native land for road purposes. Consequently any Government road engineer, or surveyor, may enter upon Native land, and there practice trigonometrical problems, entirely oblivious to any considerations of equity. Recently the Auckland Crown Lands Commissioner took a road through an improved farm at Te Rau-a-moa, hacking fences and improvements, in the process, and at the same time repudiating any responsibility to compensate the owner. This is mentioned as an illustration of the spirit of spoliation so deeply rooted in the Pakeha. Laws obviously intended for the benefit of the Natives, and the colony, have, by their administration, been perverted to work them (Natives) positive injury. The Pakeha settlers of this district now begrudge us the use of their roads because we are not ratepayers. That this is a real grievance to the bona fide settler, no one can deny, but unfortunately it is being made a lever, by land speculators, to force on the Government to further acts of spoliation. I would remind these settlers that up to the present time, they have, on the average, not paid more than per acre in rates, while we, during the last twenty years, have been practically robbed by the State of at least five shillings per acre on about two and a-half million acres acquired, or to put it in other words, the difference between the prices paid for our lands, and their true value, would have made and metalled all the roads in this district. If the settlers would try and make the State disgorge some of its illgotten gains, and have it spent on the roads, it would save them much hardship, and we would come by some of our own. Half -a - million acres divided amongst a population of five thousand works out at 100 acres each, this in- . eludes mountain tops, lakes, streams, etc., so where does the justification of j the cry of Maori landlordism comes n. fTo be continued. 1 (