DEFENDING THE PLAINS.

Patea Mail, 13 November 1880, Page 2

DEFENDING THE PLAINS.

Have the Government considered how long they will keep a force of armed constables to protect the Waimate Plains ? Have they considered whether a cheaper and more effective defence can bo found I If they sell all the agricultural sections in the open land on the coast belt, including the Parihaka block, there ought to be an agricultural population ol 800 settlers,and a township population of say aSO at Manaia, 100 at Opunaki, and perhaps 100 at a village in the Parihaka block—say 350 in the towns within two years after settlement. A total population of 1100 might be safely reckoned within the first IS months; but put the number down at 1000. Whether the buyers will settle at once on their sections depends entirely on the Government policy. What security can bo guaranteed that these thousand shall have peaceful occupation ? If they were a compact population, every section having its occupant, our opinion is that a thousand persons on the coast bolt would need no protectionat all. The presence of so large a number of settlers would impart mutual confidence. They would not be subject to frights and panics and stampedes; and your armed constabulary could be employed to more profit elsewhere, or be engaged in road-making, or be disbanded.

But how do the Government propose to get a compact population along the coast belt? Have they considered alternative policies ? If they offer the cash sections to the highest bidders, onehalf or three-fourths of those sections, are likely to remain unoccupied until the bona fide settlers have borne the brunt of occupying disputed land. Those buyers who can afford to wait will wait. They will want to see what is going to happen. They will be watching for Te Whiti’s next move. They will not peril their precious skins till all risk is over. The real pioneers will be the settlers who enter on sections in earnest, running the risks of native obstruction, and paving the way for more leisurely settlers to follow in the “ sweet bye and bye,” The brunt of this business should not bo thrown on deferred payment settlers and a few cash buyers who must

occupy their sections at any hazard. Security is to be found in a general occupation by men who intend to stick to their land.

To secure that kind of occupation, the cash sections should be sold subject to occupation say within six months, and a specified improvement within a year from date of sale. That policy would effect two desirable ends. It would bring the native question to a head, and it would secure a bona fide settlement of the disputed land. In a crisis of this kind, in which the whole colony is keenly interested by reason of the effect which a native outbreak would have on the colony’s credit, it is desirable that the safest and surest mode of settlement should be pursued. Speculators who would buy sections to hold as an investment are not the men to be considered in a grave political dilemma. The colony’s interest stands first. A few A.C’s might act as patrols ; going along the roads in couples, and carrying the mails to make them useful. Their regugular patrol duty would be useful by imparting confidence to settlers. Small armed bodies might occupy redoubts, as centres for road-making parties. A.C.’s arc not wanted as ornaments; they should be made useful, and five-sixths of the present force on the Coast might be soon dispensed with.