LAND SETTLEMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 23 February 1907, Page 2

LAND SETTLEMENT

OPENING 11' TiliO NATIVE , jjlouks.;

TUB COALUISSIUNEUS' WORK. IMI'OKXANT SPEECH iIY NATIVE MINISTER. Per Press Association Wairoii, February 2L Tiio Hon. Air Cairo'], Wiiiruu, Messrs Eraser and Ngata, M'.-.J1.U., and the Judges »i' tho Native Land Court were eiilertiiiiii'd last night. The Native -Minster explained the forward movement in .Maori laud legislation, an'd

the constitution of the newly created lai>,d boards. Xlie Government had determined o ; , a progressive policy in native mailers, (u settle the Maoris

on llie In ml, and where a surplus remauled, to dspose of it to Europeans in the interests oi ' the natives. Referring I>. l-,e Land Hill, |, ( . s:l id there were two ways of eniting „j, large ~„. tales required f„ v S eUle,,io„i.-; 0 increase the graduate! land tax, or the application of the "limn' He deprecated the cry of the pcrmfiiui

leaseholders for the freehold. So'llers under this tenure had been placed o„ the land by (he Government,

and when assisted by prosperity, they cry out for tho freehold, and the

right to buy their holdings at ;he original! valuation. The Government did I not intend to break xU contract with The people in tile disposal of these

lands, a,uil why slxjuld individuals shirk the carrying out of their engagement under contract. The Govern-

ment only bold land on trust for the people, and would not be disturbed by

the clamour of tke. loase-in-perpetuity tenant for the freehold. Regarding the limitation of areas, it would be

loss complicated to introduce a graj.

uiited land tax, and put by (he Land Jiill for a fi;\v years until the country ■ Wiis more prepared to receive it. What

the Government wanted was tlie land for the people. He indicated the probability of the Land UviL being dropped.

Sir Fraser declared lunsel? an out and out freeholder, and declared the cry for the freehold was too strong for any administration to combat..

Mr Ngata declared himself a leasfch holder. The Maoris bad now more hind than they could use, and were willing to lease tlie surplus to Europeans for a term, and if, when the term cxp:red, the Maoris had increased thely could resume their lands. He said the difficulties of getting a I'tlo through Hie old method,, were responsible for the Maori indolence. The Maori in many cases could not got on his own land, yet he required the lafrid as much as Europeans. If given an opportunity of settling the Maori would make good farmers. AU •Jiewanted was the incentive, and indolence would disappear. AU the speakers, were well received Uur.ng the last few days, Messrs Ngata and Eraser, M's.H.R., met the native owners of large blocks lying between Napier aud (,'isbornc. The "•ope and powers of the Commission have been fully explained to the natives, and there seems to have bcenj! lively interest taken. Judging from results so far, the natives seem anxious to assist in throwing open their lands ior settlement, and only wfmt some little Government encouragement to make them take up extensive areas themselves.

Mr Ngata leaves overland for Nat>ier. today, and on his way will address meetings of natives ,n connecton with the Waihim and Mohaka Mocks at Mohaka. The Chief Justice arrives from Napier this evening and wU be joined by Mr Ngata to-morrow, lncy leave here on Saturday, and a sitting of tlie Commission will be held on Monday in Napier, when probably the programme will be drawn out, which 'will embrace a personal visit to all the .native blocks available for settlement between Napier and Wau-oa and Wairoa and Gisborne, and possibly followed by an extended tour to the north or Gisborne.

It can bo s.-i/fely said that so far the natives have exhibited a friendly feelmg vownnU the powers conferred on the Commission.

Nap.ev, February 21. Die Ch.et Justice, Sir Eobt. Stout, haa been occupied to-day i„ iuvcst'mting the titles to several blocks of native lands. It is expected that his leiW Commissioner, Jlr A. T. Nglltn, M.11.h., will arrive from Wairoa tonight, and that the Native Lands Commission will commence its sitting tomorrow.

TELEGRAPHIC KEHOKT (JUES-

TIONED.

IWeilinoto.v, February 22. I lie statement nuulo m a telegram troin Wairoa that the Native Minister m the course of a speech in that town! mcHealed the probability that the land Hill would be dropped, was brought under the notice of the Acting-Preimer by a Post reporter this morning The Tlon. W. HalUone.s informed the interviewer that tlie Government had do mleuliou to drop the Bill which lie said was m accordance with the wishes of the great majority of the ' people and of the members of (he House. He could not credit that the IN alive Minister had made the statement attributed to him, and he felt that his colleague had been misrouorted.

THE NATIVE MINISTER'S REMARKS,

Wellington, February 22. On Friday in his speech at Wairoa, the Native Minister made only passing [ reference to the Land Bill, pointmß out that he had no des.re at present lo trend! on what was particularly the province of lus colleague, the Hon MI Mc»ab. He, ihoweyer, made it clear that the Government was thoroughly i" earnest m.tlieir desire lo arrive at a solii ion of (he question of closer settlejn that] md nil along been a m, L Plank ,n he Liberal Government's novl'V'": thilt l> olk, y would continue. While there would be no departure U-om he cardinal principles of the UUI, the Goverunient would of course endeavor to perfect any weakness that might happen to present itself in the measure. Some people held that an increase m the graduated land tax, ra her [than l„„it,t,on of area, would better promote the desired end, ami he was inclined to think the former method was the least complicated. The demand o the country for closer settlemeat would havo to receive i e.ue,l : -i'r practical attention.