The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1888. THE NATIVE POLICY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1777, 16 August 1888, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1888. THE NATIVE POLICY.

One by one the prophecies indulged in by the supporters of the Stout-Vogol Government during the elections are being fulfilled. The opponents of the late Government held that no more taxation was necessary, and that the finances of the colony could be adjusted by means of retrench men t. Wp arenow told that retrenchmenthas been carried as far as possible, but it in not sufficient. The taxes have been increased far beyond anything contemplated by the btout-Vogel Goveriment. The Property Tax has been increased in a wider and more vexatious manner than the late Government suggested, while the Customs duties are immensely higher. In the next place, it was said that the motive which principally animated the Political Eeform Association was the squatters' leases, but this was denied, Messrs Kolleston and Rhodes held that these were settled, and that no fresh legislation was necessary, but the fresh legislation has been brought to the assistance of the squatters, and now they are to have a lease for 21 years. This is just the proper time to lease runs for 21 years, It is a time of depression, when people w 11 not care to give a great deal for tha runs, and consequently the runholdera are bound to get a great bargain The next question is the land: The late Government proposed to extend settlement under the Village Settlement system and the Land Acquisition Bill, but the present Government have don# their best to prevent it. From all quarters pressure is being brought to bear upon the Government to ettend the village settlement system, but they .refuse to do it, preferring to open the land to the speculator and the landshark. The Native policy of the Government a ; ms at the same thing. The late Government enac led laws to prevent the Natives bartering their land for tobacco and rum. These laws, of course, did not suit the North Island landsharks, but the present Government have made laws to suit them, and the Natives are henceforward to become a prey to them. This is th» cause of the stonewalling of the Native Land Bill. It proposes not only to give facilities to the Natives to part with their lands in any way they wish, but also to validate old transactions which at present have no legal force. It is said that Mr Ormond and other North Islanders are deeply interested in these transactions, and

that the Bill is intended to give them titles to land to which at present they have no legal claim. The effect of the new Native Land Law will be to let loose on the Natives the landsharks, who will, as in former days,' wheedle them out of their - property, and leave them paupers dependent on charitable aid, and it is because of this that the Native menibers have stonewalled the measure. The late Government put a stop to this sort of landsharking. They bought the land themßeltes on reasonable and honest terms from the Natives, and placed European Bottlers on it. In this way justice was done to the Natives and settlement was promoted in a legitimate way, This, however, did not suit the twelve apostles and others who are watching an opportunity to traffic in Native land, and consequently th 3 land policy of the late Government was condemned. The Natives and others now see the great mistake that was made in ousting the late administration. Jsv«ry day is giving fresh proofs of it, and the day is not far distant when it will be made more manifest. But so it will always be: blocd will tell, and money will win elections, and the rich will live in luxury, and the poor will starve as heretofore. Electors niafee the Government, and consequently they have themselves to blame, but in all probability what is going on at present will open the eyes of the people, and prepare them for setting greater vflue on their votes when the time for voting cornea round again.