Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1911. THE NATIVE LANDS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10240, 17 May 1911, Page 4

Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1911. THE NATIVE LANDS.

The Native Minister, in the course of aji address in Masterton on Monday that the only method of successfully administering the remnant of the Native lands in the Dominion was to place them in trust for the benefit of the aboriginal race. This proposal lias much to recommend it. The lands of the Natives at the present time are being dealt with in a slipshod manner. The policy of "Taiboa!" is acting as a bar to the, settlement of the country, and is placing at the disposal of the Native race enormous sums of money in unearned increment. It is, in fact, creating a Maori aristocracy at the expense of the European population. This could ibe obviated, anidi the Native race saved from destruction from ennui, by a simple process otf administration. The Government couM acquire the power (which it .sought under the liand Act of last year) (to appropriate the whole of the remaining Native lands in the Dominion by leas?. The aboriginal race .should, be paid in interest, say, 4 per cent, on the present leasing value. The State .should then isub-lease the lands, (with a right of purchase, on the same terms and conditions under which Grown lands are at present leaseidi. The Natives should be given the first opportunity at the ballots, aaid, if they were is/uecessful, they should be made to effect the same improvements as are required from Europaams, and .should be placed under similar restrictions in respect to default. In the j event of the Natives taking up the land, they would, of course, ibe required to pay the same rental as wouM. a European, the only difference being that they would be in receipt of 4 per. cent, on the capital value of the land, with which to pay their rent. In ca,::er> -w-h'ere the right of {Jurchase is exercised, the money realised would be vested i v the Public Trustee for all time, any surplus over, the 4 per cent, going to the State. If a process such as that above out-Lined were adopted, thousands of acres of land

would be speedily placed; into profitable occupation by Natives and Europeans, and the problem of the future of the race would, foe solved. It would not be necessary to wait for the individualization; of the lands. All that would be required would be a fair valuation by valuers representing the Government and the Natives. The individualization of Native interests could be performed simultaneously or .subsequently. The contingency of an increase of Natives is so remote that this aspect of the financial question need hardly he discusised. Even .should the new conditions result in an increase, the State 'would be possessed of a sufficient sum of money over end albove tlie 4 per cent with which to make provision for the remaining Natives. The probabilities are, however, (that in the course of years the Native race will be absorbed in the Eurojpean. The liability would then be gradually reduced, and the interest Native lands would naturally revert to the State; The proposal miade above cannot he regarded a® an attempt to further exploit the Natives. It is purely and simply a suggestion for dealing with the lands in su-oh a way that they would be iplaeed immediately into profitable occupation; that the Natives would be provided) for adequately for all time; that the aboriginals would be encouraged tio a-rhr. of thrift and industry; and that the danger of creating a wealthy race of Maori landlords by the expenditure of loan money would be effectually removed.