NATIVE LANDS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 183, 19 August 1909, Page 5

NATIVE LANDS.

To the Editor. Sir, —This question is so very nvuch discussed that to say something original, or find something that has escaped criticism would bring much credit to him who found it. It is frequently referred to as a complex problem, bat it reality it should be easily solved if some of the Legislative measures that encompass it were, in some respects, amended, and in others, deleted. By their request to have their lands rated, the Natives recognise the wishes of the European ratepayers, and by united action, the importance of industrial progress, and their wish to be as favourably treated as are tenants of Crown lands, leads them to ask financial aid, at such times as they require it, from the Government Advances Department, on the security of their alienated lards, by simpler methods than at present obtain. Unfortunately It has yet to be proved that a Maori can manage a farm at a profit, but when self-interest is the incentive, and they can look forward to bettering their position, they can be rdted on to apply themselves industriously, and when matters of finance are finally adjusted, we hope that the Native freehold will be as good as other landed securities. The smalt holders of from 100 to 400 acres are those who especially require assistance, but should they be unfortunate, and the mortgagee foreclose, then the experience gained would be of benefit to them in future transactions. It h this class that cannot provide sufficiently far ahead to enable them to keep continuously on their places, to carry on improvements. Many of them can act prudently, and to these the extension of loans would be opportune. Those who have targe areas teased, are in the minority, and are not obliged to borrow, but in any case their experience would not be instructive to the targe majority who have none to spare. If the pastoral and dairying industries in the King Country are to be largely inrceased in the near future, by the best efforts of both races, then it must be competent for a Native settler to finance on his property when he has placed sufficient improvements thereon. We hope that experimental legislation with Native affairs has passed, and whet the future will bring will be efficacious and progressive.—l am, etc.. W. ORMSBY, Te Haiti, August 15th, 1969.

To the Edtior.

Sir, —Has my letter been the indirect means of making "F.M." keep stock within bounds; that it causes such umbrage? "P.M.?" should remember that "The greatest good for the greatest number," contains a better principle than any interested partisanship, and the public benefit i? not likely to become subservient to the individual. Thanking "F.M.?" for his gratuitous advice about "signing my own name, I might aptly retort: "To Qooqoe I" -I am, etc., "SANS PEUR." August ITtb, 1909.

To the Editor.

Sir, —I should Hke to draw attention | to the frequency ©i runnaway attached to carts in Te Kaitt township Such happening nr»* becoming much too frequent, and it is time something was done to stop them Already there have been narrow escapes bv children, and unless action is taken in the interests of public safety, there is bound to be a serious accident sooner or later—l am, etc,, SPECTATOR