King Country Chronicle Saturday, June 21st, 1913 A MENACE TO SETTLEMENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 578, 21 June 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Saturday, June 21st, 1913 A MENACE TO SETTLEMENT.

Matters in connection with native affairs continue to move slowly, and it appears as though the importance of the question has not yet been fully realised by the authorities. This is perhaps not to be wondered at considering the many abstruse and intricate points which are continually cropping up in respect to native land deal ings. However, in view of the importance of the question in tho scheme of land settlement which is so vital to the progress and prosperity of the country, a supreme effort should be made to remove the difficulties i which beset the path of settlement as far as native lands are concerned. The | outcry in respect to the reading of these lands awakened the Government to the realisation that action was | necessary in orier to prevent a state of chaos arising from the methods which were being pursued, and steps were taken to ensure that better provision would be made by the Native Land Court in respect to reading than had been the caße. Tht Act of 1912 decreed that an inspection should be made of all blocks for which applica tions for partition had been lodged. The inspection requires to be made by a departmental surveyor, and a report submitted to the court indicating the position in which road 3 should be taken in order to ensure the roading and subdivision of the block on the best lines. Such a regulation is a distinct improvement on the old method of having the subdivision made by the Court without special and reliable information as to the best method of partition. It is obvious, however, that unless the necessary reports are furnished expeditiously the applications must become unduly delayed, and the hanging up of applications for reports is seriously impeding the settlement of the district. At present in the Auckland office it is stated there are at least a thousand applications awaiting reports before the sanction of the Court can be obtained, and the applicants placed in a position to work the land for which they have concluded negotiations with the owners. Additional applications are flowing in. and it is evident 'unless prompt and efficient methods are adapted to cope with the position the regulation will become an infliction rather than an amelioration of the previous position. A striking weakness in connection with the administration of native lands is the lack of surveyors attached to the Native Lands Department. Some time ago an assurance was given that the Department would be equipped with his own staff of surveyors, and in view of the present necessities this appears to be the only manner in which a satisfactory solution of the difficulty can be arrived at. In any case, whatever steps are taken they should be prompt and vigorous. It is altogether desirable that native, as well as Crown lands, should be ax- ' peditiously settled, and the delay in obtaining titles to native blocks in which partitions are necessary is altogether vexatious and unnecessary. A person who treats for a block of native land may be unable to obtain the signatures of all the owners, and after going to considerable expense and locking- up his capita! is forced to wait interminable months before he knows exactly what portion of the block is to be -iut off. This alone is a serious loss to the individual, while the consequent delay in development work affects both the individual and the community. There is no doubt the Government is in earnest in the desire to expedite settlement, and by giving earnest consideration to the matters referred to it will be doing much to further its proclaimed policy.