THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1907. NATIVE LAND QUESTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 47, 13 September 1907, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1907. NATIVE LAND QUESTION.

That definite action on the part of the Government, with regard to the Native Land Question, was absolutely necessary, is made fully apparent by the reports of the Native Land Commission as the same are presented to the House. Each succeeding report contains some strong-.pronouncement condemning the manner in which the business, in connection with transactions in Native lands, has been carried on, and to characterise the state of the Native legislation as "muddle," seems much too mild language to meet the case. In r a general sense the work of the Commission appears to have been carried out in an efficient manner, and with a desire to do justice to both races. Hitherto the workings of the Native Department has been regarded as darkly mysterious by the majority of the public, and obviously, also by the major portion of our politicians. Thus the light shed on the subject by the Commission will be widely welcomed, and it is to be devoutly hoped the darkness and mystery now being swept away by the illuminating medium of com-mon-sense will not be*allowed to again gather. It is gratifying to learn that the Commission is not too greatly shackled with " red tape " to recommend the adoption of new legislation for the purpose of validating transactions, which have been completed by both parties in good faith, and which

may be found to be technically faulty Even if the work of the Commission results in nothing more being done in the immediate future than the rectifying of manifest cases of hardship, the ultimate result must be a simplification of the whole regulations connected with the department. The end desired by both European and Native is the bringing of the land to a state of productiveness, and anything which assists towards this end is an unmitigated blessing. The Commission has clone good work so far, and has fully justified its existence. Future reports will be awaited with widespread interest, and it is broadly hoped that the beginning of the end of the vexatious Native Land Question is in sight. The final act will rest with Parliament, and if handled in a proper statesmanlike manner, there will be eliminated from New Zealand, and the North Island in particular, an influence which has blighted the progress of many of our best districts, and retarded the prosperity of the colony in general.

THE WILLOW CURSE. In another column a correspondent draws attention to urgent necessity of taking action with regard to the destruction of willows in the King Country streams. There is much to be said in favour of the course advocated by our correspondent, and nothing can be gained by delay in the matter—except another flood. One of the great difficulties experienced in undertaking even the most urgent of local works has been the lack of responsible local authorities. Ever since the constitution of the Wailomo County Council one of the greatest difficulties experienced by the Council officials has been the defining of what works in the district the Council was actually responsible for, and expected to undertake with the ratepayers' money. Possibly the same spirit will be found influencing the members with regard to the willow destruction. However, seeing that the Government has already recognised its responsibility by making a grant it can surely do no harm for the Council lo become acquainted with its position with a view to assisting in the removal of an evil which is a constant menace to the whole district.