King Country Chronicle SATURDAY, MAR. 22, 1913 THE MINISTERIAL VISIT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 552, 22 March 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle SATURDAY, MAR. 22, 1913 THE MINISTERIAL VISIT.

The visit of the Minister for Native Affairs to the district is past and gone, and the residents have done their duty in placing various matters of importance before the person in whose charge lies the destinies of the Maori. In acknowledging his great responsibility towards the natives Mr Herries gave evidence that he had fully considered tho matter pertaining to tho office of Native Minister, and thai; his judgment on all native affairs would be seriously considered with a view to conserving the native interests. Such a principle will be widely commended, but, as is the case with all broad principles, much depends upon the interpretation of the interests referred to. In the past Ministers have been prone to forget that the ultimate destiny of the Maori is inseparably associated with the destiny of the Dominion, and that in all broad legislation the individual interests are subsidiary to the weal of the community. Too much care in conserving the interests of the native in the past has resulted in anything but benefit accruing to the object of Ministerial solicitude, and it is to be hoped in his well meant efforts to advance the native interests the present Native Minister will not too closely follow in the footsteps of his well meaning predecessors. A great and worthy work has been partially accomplished in respect to the natives of New Zealand, and there is every reason why that work should be carried to completion. A greater and worthier work than the strict consevation of native interests, however, is the conservation of the broad national interests of the Dominion upon which the interests of the natives are, incidentally, dependent. It cannot be denied, moreover, that the interests of the people who are engaged in the great work of developing our country are just as much in need of protection as are the interests of the ! natives. It is also of the highest importance that the legislation of our Government should be so directed that the interests of the natives shall not be brought into direct conflict with the interests of the settlers. Had sufficient care and foresight been exercised by our legislators in the past the conditions which exist to-day in respect to native townships, and the reading of native lands would never have been created. It cannot be denied that there is a conflict of interests to a certain degree, and it can be safely asserted that had the interests of tha settlers been as jealously guarded as were the native interests the path of the Native Minister would have been much easier and clearer than is the case. Speaking on tho subject of native lands Mr Herries denounced the opinions of those who advocated the taking away of the native lands from the natives and placing them in the hands of the Public Trustee for him to administer The chief reason advanced in opposition to this suggestion by the Minister was that it would make of the Maori a mere rent receiver, and rob him of all incentive to work or cultivate his lands. While agreeing heartily with this view of the question we would draw attention to the native township lands. Of all the things calculated to constitute the Maori a rent receiver and nothing more, the iniquitous conditions governing the native tuwnship lands may be placed first in an obnoxious catalouge. Though provision for the obtaining of the freehold of native township sections exists experience shows that it is practically impossible for the freehold to be obtained. The obvious intention and desire of those responsinle for the conditions is not only to make the Maori a mere rent receiver but to keep him in such a position for all lime. The tenure of the townships and the practice followed in respect to applications for alienations point clearly to the one object. Despite the promptings of common sense and the advocacy of well balanced members of the Maori race native owners are debarred from realising capital from the sale of township sections, even when they require the money for the purpose of developing their rural lands. In announcing his opinion on the subject of making the Maori a rent receiver MrHerrieß unconsciously used a strong argument in favour of allowing the Maori the right to sell his township lands. We have little doubt the principle will be followed in future legis- . lation introduced on the subject by the j Native Minister. -

The metalling work on the To KuitiMokau road should receive an impetus at an early date. Two crushers are being erected, one at the eleven mile and one at 14|> mile and it is expected that work will be in full swing early next week. It is anticipated that from 200 to 250 yards of metal will be handled per day by each crusher. Trouble has been experienced in the past from the scarcity of teams to handle the output, and it is hoped that the teams will thiß season be forthcoming in order that the work may be pushed ahead while the good weather lasts. Should the weather hold good and the necessary teams be obtained it is anticipated that Home tlvoo and a half miles between the nine and fourteen miles pegs, will be completed this season.

In connection with the approaching visit of 11.M.5. New Zealand to the Dominion waters early next month, the Railway Department has issued a circular intimating its intention to run school and other excursion trninn to the ports at which the warship will call. School committees desirous of ' arranging for children to visit tin ship should communicate with the district traffic manager without delay. Holiday excursion rateß will be charged to people wishing to visit the ship when in port, and these will be advertised later.

Metalling is proceeding en the Waimiha-Tangitu road. Four trucks of spawls per day are being delivered from the Government qarry at Te Kuiti. Mr McLean expects to fitart on his contract between the three and live mile, next week. The Quick Sales Co. are extending their bargain boot sale another Week.