THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 12, 1910 NATIVE LAND BUSINESS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 224, 12 January 1910, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 12, 1910 NATIVE LAND BUSINESS.

THE letter appearing in our correspondence columns to-day dealing with the necessity of a sitting of the Native Land' Court at Te Kuiti, touches a very big question. It is a long time since a sitting of the Court was held in the district, and it is evident the necessity for a Court has become urgent. In view of the interest displayed some time ago, both by the public and by the Native Minister in the Native question, it was fondly hoped that the "Taihoa" microbe had been overcome, and that business connected with Native lands would in future be dispatched with the promptness befitting the interests involved. In the interests of the individual such a revolution was felt to be necessary, and for the benefit of the country at large the change would have been to the greatest advantage; The question is not merely that of how soon an individual can get a certain transaction completed. There are innumerable matters of mere detail to be put in order affecting a large number of legitimate transactions, which are hung up pending the completion of the necessary routine. In addition there is an immense amount of accumulated business affecting the Maoris only, which require the attention that only a Land Court can give. Regarding the matter broadly, i.t must be apparent to the most casual observer that the effect of the "Taihoa" policy is to block and retard legitimate settlement in every way. For a host of reasons there is urgent need for bringing into profitable occupation every available acre of land in the district. European settlement is spreading in every direction; roads are urgently required in many localities; unoccupied areas of Native land are little more than breeding grounds for noxious weeds and rabbits, and constitute a standing menace to setters in their vicinity, while the inability to rate, those lands for local reQmremejiiis forces an almost insupportable' ll&rden on to the shouldootflam i mhftsiß ftfforta are con-

tinually enhancing the value of the unproductive and non-ratepaying areas. In the face of this the "Taihoa" policy prevails and the business of the Native Department meanders along on the well known lines, while the Native Minister points proudly to the still undigested Native Land Bill, and poses as the man who solved the question. The position is intolerable and should be remedied without delay. The introduction of- the Native Land Bill ' to Parliament during last session apparently had the effect of checking agitation for the time being. The experience gained will certainly not tend to reassure those interested, who will not again be tempted to relax their efforts.