POSITIVELY STARTLING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 22, 16 June 1914, Page 6

POSITIVELY STARTLING.

TRAFFICKIM! IX X'ATIVE LAXD. A .DAXCKI! TO Til]-: NORTH. SIR JOSEPH WARD'S OPIXIOX.

Sir Joseph Wind, who returned a few days ago to Auckland .from n tour through the North Auckland district, in tlic course of an interview with a Star representative, said lie noticed tliat criticism was already being levelled at liim in connection with the welcome extended to him by the Maoris at Ilororeke and Kaweno. The suggestion lias been made without the slightest justification that he was opposed to the progressive settlement of native land, it was surely necessary to declare that this was quite contrary to fact. He had made, this abundantly clear when replying to the .Maoris at the places mentioned, where, in welcoming him, in their customary graphic language, they had referred to their own troubles. He fully, realised that the complete settlement of native lands throughout the Dominion was essential to its future progress and welfare. At the same, time he had made it clear that proper consideration for the natives was equally essential, and that care would require to be exercised that they were not denuded of their land, particularly for speculative purposes. Bona-fide settlement was one thing and the purchase of native land for speculative purposes was quite another. Fictitious values and the enormous increase in price brought about by speculation, would mean penalising future, settlers for years to come.

"I. have to confess," added Sir Joseph, "that some of the matters brought under my notice during mv recent tour bus been positively startling. ] can hardly believe that the great bulk of my opponents are willing parties to what was taking place in different portions of the North Island. 1 oelicve in the speedy settlement of native.' land. Every facility possible should be given to bonalide settlers to sccu/e native land whereever it «\n no mw available. .But 1 fear that a great injury is going to be done to the future development of the North Island—and incidentally to the city of Auckland—if some of the transactions which have recently been brought under my notice are to be accepted as the right and proper method of acquiring and settling native land. Let me refer, in passing, to the suggestion that has been -made that Dr. Buck, who stands as the Liberal candidate for Bay of Islands, is opposed to the settlement of native lands. That statement is absurd. Dr. Buck is one of the most intelligent and higbl.-educated men in the country, and fully recognises that land settlement in the North Island must go on actively and progressively. But I question very much whether there are many people in Xew Zealand who would be willing parties to what is going on now in different parts of the country, under the pretext of purchasing native land for legitimate settlement purposes. The system being pursued makes it almost impossible for a comparatively poor man, or even a man of ordinary means, to acquire land and settle on it with tlia idea of profitable occupation. •