Native Land Experiment.

Patea Mail, 22 May 1882, Page 3

Native Land Experiment.

One happy experiment in land policy is being made by the new Ministry. It is the leasing of Native land for long terras, on the plan which proved so successful at the Rotorua township 'sale. The merit of this plan is that, by leasing for 99 years, the Natives do riot part with the nominal ownership of the land (a mere sentiment which won’t connt for much at the end of 99 years);: while; they- bhtairi a regular rental c paid through a Government office, and so get the means of spending money, on things which they desire. Their regular expenditure will thus add to the volume of trade, and the. very regularity of the rentals will give steadiness to the Native dealings with storekeepers. On the other hand, this is a cheap plan of purchasing for white settlers the use of Native land for 99 years. A race that is dying out will riot give much trouble at the end of 99 years. We secure the land for the use of two generations without paying for the fee simple ; and wo ; avoid all the evils and risks of purchasing land form Native owners. This plan has so much to recommend it as an easy solution of the Native question—-that question • being ; entirely 6ne 6f land—that jwe. hope it will be applied extensively and; at once to the: opening of .tracts in the interior of this island which "plight otherwise remain dosed an indefinite time. This proposal has evidently been made to King Tawhairi through the - Government ; arid he referred in his speeches to leasing the land. This leasing experiment promises to change the future of the North Island,, and con vert it’rapidly In to a busy regiori of thriving ._B'ettlemerits' ;: arid'\ ; 'riiiining operations. : In this thing the ; Government have hit on a happy expedient, which no.foolish opposition should be allowed to hinder. : ; ;