NATIVE LAND QUESTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 181, 12 August 1909, Page 5

NATIVE LAND QUESTION.

To the Editor. j Sir, -Jn view of the widespread j agitation for and the urgent need of an early and satisfactory settlement of what is known as the Native Land Question, the recent visit of the Native Minister to the King Country most be recognised as an event of considerable importance to this district, for although there are no doubt those who refuse to believe that eit' er the present iSmimstration or the Native Minister will ever make any serious attempt to settle the Native Question, there are many others who may correctly read the signs of the times, and can see in the events of the past a week evidences of decided progress, ♦doming events cast their shadows before." We have seen that both the leading Natives and the Native Minister, are now recognising the growth and force of public opinion on this qnMHwt and are preparing for the inevitable. Hence we have Use demodi of the European ratepayers to have power to rate Native lands, anticipated by a voluntary request from the Natives that their lands shall be made liable for rates. When this is accompanied by a request for equal citizenship with their Pakeha brethren, their request most be at once conceded as being both reasonable and

just. It is, however, more particularly with the proposal to extend the operation* of Government Advances to Settlers Aet to Ntaive lands, that 1 wish on deal or the present occasion, for: Should the Minister in fulfilment of bis promise, extend the operations of the Act, to Native lands, a new and interesting phase of the question will be evolved. At present ait Native lauds are inalienable, except, of course, under some very restircted conditions. Shootd these lands, however, be accepted as security for Advances this embargo most he removed so that the Oown, as mortgagee, shall have a good security, with the irght of entry for the purposes of sale, etc., in case of default being made by the borrowgg t at. for want of practical experience mm! other causes a considerate number may fait short of success, the benefits to the Native owners may be somewhat doubtful. fn any ease this is a ■)h,g r of the subject that will require Vbry careful consideration in the interests of both the Natives and the State. Tb m is, however, a very simpe and easy way whereby a large number of Natives could be provided with funds to improve and develop lands retained

for their own ose, and which would obviate the necessity of borrowing money for which interest and repayments have to b provide. That is in the case of lands already leased to Europeans for long periods of say from 21 to 50 years, daring which timi the Natives are only receiving interest in the form of rent. Jf in place of those lands being locked op so far as any dealing with their owners is concerned. for the period of their natural life the owners were allowed to realise upon those lands by selling to their lessees sufficient areas to provide the necessary capital for their own requirements this, it appears to me. wool! be a much safer basts to start the experiment opon, because, should the Native not prove a successful farmer, and should he lose his capital, he would still have bis land. On the other hand, if. having mortgaged bis lands to the* Government he should prove unsuccessful then his lands so mortgaged mast go. a contingency which aft true friends of the Natives wish to avoid, t would respectfully commend the above suggestions to the careful consideration of all those who may be leaders of thought amongst the Maori people.-—I am, etc.. JAMES BOD DIE. Te Kuiti, August 9th. 1909.

To the Editor.

Sir —lf there be a Health Officer tying dormant her*, now that spring is approaching it would be as well for the citizens of Te Kuiti dependent on milk vendors, if he awoke and sallied forth to ascertain if the rules of cleanliness are observed by the purveyors of our lacteal fluid. The rules regarding cleanliness and scalding of cans before lapse of certain hours are elsewhere rigidtv enforced; here, perhaps a surprise inspection would reveal an "inside lining" of grease and accumulated dirt, and consumers, especially mothers of helpless infants, would do well to satisfy themselves that the milk they buy is not contaminated by dirty utensits before reaching their homes. In passing, the Inspector, if there is one. would do welt to avoid certain , back yards off Rora Street, lest decaying fish and vegetables dull his olfactory sense for ever. I am, etc., "SANITAS." To the Editor. Sir,—l have just come across a little j memo, in an old diary of mine and as ti»ere is much talk of war with Germany at present, I thought yoi might think it of sufficient interest to insert in your valuable paper—l am. etc.. A. E. TOMLINE. Te Kuiti. August Tth, 1909. FROM AN OLD PAMPHLET CALL- i ED "ROYALTY AND THE STARS," PUBLISHED ABOUT 1840: "After predicting a great deal that is already history, such as the King's marriage to a daughter of the Viking#, his trip to the East, his two dangerous illnesses, and so on, it proceeds to say that King Edward VII will reign 18 years, during which the Empire will enjoy a period of unprecedented prosperity. that two great wars with Germany and Russia will be averted by his tact, and diplomacy, and that his Queen wilt survive him eight years.'*