King Country Chronicle WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8, 1913 PROJECTED MINISTERIAL VISIT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 531, 8 January 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8, 1913 PROJECTED MINISTERIAL VISIT.

The Native Minister, in accordance with the highly practical adage that charity begins at nome, is at present touring the Bay of Plenty district in company with the Minister for Public Works. After duly attending to the requirements of his constituents it is to be sincerely hoped Mr Herries will be induced to pay a visit to the King Country. An intimate knowledge of native affairs is credited to the present Native Minister, and such knowledge will undoubtedly be used to the advantage of the country by the Government. However, it is to be seriously questioned whether Mr Herries, lacking personal knowledge of

our conditions and without personal association with the King Country, can possibly have a detailed knowledge of many points which at present prejudicially affect the district, and which can be adjusted without hardship, and to the benefit of the country. Native legislation is on an entirely different plane to the ordinary legislative measures for the European portion of the community. So many Acts have been passed, repealed or amended from time to time as local occasion arose, that only a specialist in the legal profession can deal with native matters with any degree of confidence. An eloquent commentary on the situation is furnished from the fact that when all the other lawß of New Zealand were consolidated and simplified by specially appointed experts, it v was found impossible to include the native legislation in the scheme. It is manifest therefore that many inequalities must exist, and intimate local knowledge is necessary in order to deal intelligently with the matter. The country has every confidence in the capacity of the new Native Minister, and his statesmanlike qualities have drawn to him widespread esteem and respect. We trußt the locs' authorities will induce the Minister to natue an early date for a visit to the district.. We further trust the local authorities will have everything in readineßß to place before the Minister in the clearest possible manner the various points which can be remedied with benefit to the district and to the country at large.