THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1907.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 33, 7 June 1907, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1907.

The approaching session of Parliament, as far as can be judged at present, is likely to become noteworthy by reason of the prominence which will be given to questions affecting the land. The much-talked-of Land Bill will, in all probability, be discussed with bitterness, and judging from the interest aroused by the proposals during the past few months, there is every reason to think th? L t the public attention will be largely focussed upon land legislation throughout the session. That such a thing is desirable there can be n-i doubt, and the Minister for Lands has succeeded in stirring people t > r.ctijn more thoroughly than any of his colleagues. Similtaneously with the land agitation in the matter of leasehold and freehold, there has ensued a decided improvement in the attitude of the Government i,n the Native land question. For years past the Native lands have been talked of in Parliament and apparently no particular interest has been aroused in the matter by anyone. It is not to be wondered at that the Ministry took little real interest in the question. The Cabinet consisted mainly of South Island members, whose interests were not affected by the non-produc-tive lands of the North, and the Northern members were apparently blind to the fact that the quick solution of the Native land problem meant wonderfully increased prosperiiy to the North. This shortness of vision on the part of the Northern members is hard to understand, but it is now happily being replaced by a deeper and more far-reaching view of the matter. The visit of the Minister for Lands, and the report of the Native Land Commission, may be expected to bear fruit, as far as the King Country is concerned, and with the prospect of a sympathetic hearing, there is much inducement for our ! local members to bestir themselves. Important as is the land question to to the country it is to be hoped that our representatives will not lose sight of the fact that there are other things just as necessary for the prosperity of the Rohe Potae. The'ever-present question of roading the backblocks should have the greatest attention, and settlers in the various localities should make known their wants, and support both the local bodies and the Parliamentary representatives in urging the claims of their districts in this respect. A new district requires so much, and the demands upon the public purse are so numerous, that it is only by persistent urging that the backblocks are provided with the actual essentials. The system of begging is a bad one at the best, but as long as that remains, the only way to obtain recognition is to clamour with the loudest.