THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1913. RATING NATIVE LANDS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 1736, 24 January 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1913. RATING NATIVE LANDS.

If a',n argument were wanted in favour'of the speedy occupation of Native lands by European owners, it is to be found in the. difficulty that is experienced by local authorities in collectrates from the aboriginal occupiers The •" Paten Council recently wrote to various counties throughout the North Island, asking for the particulars of the amount of rates levied during the last five years, and the amount collected, together with the oost of recovery. "We leani that in Waimarino, where there is a largo area of Native land, the rates struck amount to £4732, and only £212 JOs was' collected. In Hawera County, out of £1555 levied, only £4 5s 2d was received In Raglan county, Native rates aggregate. £3OOO yearly, and lor the only two years that any attempt at collection was made, the £24 gathered \n cost tho Council £IOO. Consequently the Council has given up further effort as being "too expensive." ' There are other cases nearly as bad. The Patea County Council lias suggested as a means of recovering rates from 'Native lands that these be made a legal charge against' the properties affected, which would be loaded with the accrued rates in .case of sale or transfer. This would appear to be the only method immediately available for recovering the rates, as it is impossible, until the titles' are individualised, to proceed for recovery i!ii a Court of law. For the last twenty or thirty years Native Land Courts and Boards have been engaged in the work of individualization ; but evidently they have failed to keep pace with the requirements. Tho policy adopted in the past has been one of "Taihoa." So long as borrowed millions are being expended upojtt public works, thereby enhancing the values of Native lands, it has not suited the owners to either individualise or sell. They have been growing fat 6t the expense of the European population, and they will continue to grow fat until the Government takes a firm stand and ijnsists upon subdivision and improvement. The policy adopted by the Ward Government, on the recommendation of Sir Robert Stout and Mr Ngata, wa.s designed to throw open the Native lands for occupation. To some extent the anticipation °f the framers of the amending legislation has been realised. Far too much power has, however, been placed in the hands of assembled owners, who deliberately block any movement to. sell unless Fabulous prices

are offered. Tho Grown should possess the same right to resume Native lands, as it lias to resume European. It fthould not wait for individualization. This might reascjpably ho allowed to follow the process of re-sum ption. Tho money paid for the land should bo invested with the Public Trustee, and the tribe, Jiapu, or individuals, receive tho interest, so that they would not become a permanent ehargou pon the State. In view of tho stringency in the money market, the Government might acquire the power to resume Native lands by way oS lease, giving the .selectors a lease with the right of .purchase. This would mean that the individual, instead of the State, would find the anonoy, and the rentals would go to maintain tho aboriginal population. Those natives who were disposed to work their land to advantage might bo given a priority in the ballot. If some such schom." as this were adopted, an immediateimpetus would bo given to land settlement, and the earth hunger woil : d be appeased. The Hon W. H. Herries has a fairly good grasp of Native land questions. He has also a strong determination to bring the waste areas under cultivation and make them bear a fair share of the burden of taxation. This being so, we may expect a comprehensive and effective measure of Native land legislation to be introduced in the next session of Parliament.