ROADING NATIVE LANDS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 552, 22 March 1913, Page 5

ROADING NATIVE LANDS.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER

BLOCK TO SETTLEMENT.

The reading of native lands is recognised as being one of the most intricate and important questions in connection with the native question, and the importance of having a system established in the interests of settlement was emphasised by a deputation to the Hon. Mr Herries on Wednesday. Mr Boddie, who acted as spokesman for the deputation, said he was sure the subject was not new to'the Minister. As far as this district wa3 concerned its importance could not be over stated. In consequence of the manner in which the district had been settled there were blocks of occupied and unoccupied native land mixed with similar blocks of Crown land, and in many instances roads to give access to settlers were urgently required. The local bodies were unable to give the settlers access, and it was felt the Government should take the matter in haid in the interests of settlement generally. He thought legislation would be necessary in order to provide the machinery to meet the case. Any reading system initiated would benefit both Crown and native lands and an equitable distribution of responsibility was necessary in order to meet the case. At a recent conference of local bodies at Ohura certain recommendations were made in the matter, and these would be placed before the Government in due course. He agreed with the recommendations and trusted they would be adopted. Under present conditions ;no comprehensive scheme was possible on the part of the local body, and the machinery should be provided to enable a simpler and more direct method of obtaining roads. The speaker instanced the case of a settler within five miles of Te Kuiti, who had for several years been endeavouring to get a road of half a mile to give him access. The local body had given all the assistance in its power, but the road was no nearer being obtained than ever.

The Minister said he realised the roading question was one of the most thorny subjects connected with native lar.da. He had endeavoured in the Act uf last session to mitigate some of the difficulties. However, this provided for lands which were to be opened in future. As far as the position of those who had already taken up native lands without access was concerned these people knew what they were doing when they made the bargain, and did not merit a great amount of consideration. The question was whether it was advisable to block settlement by holding up the dealings in native lands until roads were provided or to allow dealings to continue. Personally, he was sure that if the Maoris were compelled to road their lands before dealing with them settlement would be held up till Doomsday. He did not intend to take up that position, and would do his best to meet the difficulty. Mr Boddie had made a valuable suggestion, and he would be heartily thankful to receive any sug' gestions which would lead to a solution of the difficulty. The whole matter would receive his careful consideration, and in the interests of settlement it was plainly desirable that the matter should be dealt with.