THE GREY POLICY RESPECTING CONFISCATED LANDS.
(From the Patea Mail. ) Indications so far are not reassuring as to the views of the Government on what is at present n question of . material importance to us—that of the confiscated lands. The survey of the Waimate Plains has been suspended some weeks, and there are no signs of it being resumed. Pakeha stock is depasturing there under agreement with the natives. Pakeha stock is also depasturing on the confiscated land inland of Momakaki, under native leases. There is but one conclusion can be arrived at, and that is that Sir George Grey has determined to let the balance of the confiscated land slide back into the hands of the natives. It is possible that he cannot legally hand it back ; but practically it amounts to the same, if he allows it to bo dealt with by lease to Europeans, and vested rights to be initiated, which will surely tend to complicate the question and prevent the land being dealt with as it has been, and is now being dealt with, under Mr. Civil Commissioner Brown, from Patea to Waingongora. We have nothing to say against those gentlemen who are taking advantage of opportunities presented by Government to enable them to make advantageous bargains with the natives for the depasturage of stock upon those lauds. In fact, we look upon it as part of the programme of the Grey Government, who are ever trumpeting forth their desire to serve the people, while actually playing into the hands of the rich. In the same way as, for want of a restrictive resolution, speculators were lately enabled to buy up lands at the low prices before the new Act came into force, so we look upon the present delay in regard to the plains survey as an invite to their friends—the money ring and
land grabbers—to secure and acquire all they can, arid thus further complicate the confiscated land question, and afford an excuse for letting it slide altogether, and leaving the natives and speculators in undisturbed possession.' We deplore a policy which hands over the finest portion of our country to runhqlders under native leases instead of settling it with small farmers. Mr. Brissenden, with Captain Blake, was lately in the district. We hear they are again-about. Are they one with the policy or an outcome of each other ?
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18780104.2.27
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5236, 4 January 1878, Page 5
Word count
Tapeke kupu
395THE GREY POLICY RESPECTING CONFISCATED LANDS. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5236, 4 January 1878, Page 5
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.