The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 268, 31 March 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1898.

The speech of Mr Carroll at Huntly places the proposed action of the Government with regard to native lands pretty clearly before the natives and the country. The principal point is the suggestion to make the lands which the natives still hold inalienable, not only as regards private purchases, but in addition, it is proposed, that no more purchases shall be made on behalf of the Government.

It is certainly mucb more equitable tbat this should be the case than that the Government should have the sole right of purchase, and in addition claim tho unchecked right to fix the price at which the land shall pass. This is probably the most onesided system ever adopted in any country and has affixed an iudlelible stain on our reputation for fair dealing with the native population. There can be no question but that the proposed system if properly administered would relievo us of any anxiety that the natives would become a burdon on the State. The Boards which it is proposed t® establish to administer these lands would have a difficult task in apportioning the amount of rent each of the individuals of a hapu would be entitled to. We cannot believe that it is the intention to parcel out the laud in sections and for individual natives to deal with proposing lessees through tho Board. The more simple plan would be to pool the land and the Boards deal with it in blocks of suitable areas ; a sufficient quantity being set aside for ths use of such natives as might be desirous ©f using it themselves, they paying a fair rental for its use, the rent to go to the general pool. The difficulty stands in the way that before much of the native laud will be of any appreciable value to let large expenditure on roads, bridges, etc., would be necessary. The land of course when leased either by Europeans or natives under the plan we have suggested above would become liable to land tax and to taxation by local bodies, and from this source the funds for the necessary works would be gradually drawn. Close settlement, however, on many native blocks would be impracticable for some years, and it will in consequence be a sine qua non that the first leases shall deal with the land in large blocks suitable for grazing. The value to lease of most of this land would be very small during the first term. This, however, would not be an unmixed evil, as the limited income from tho land would be calculated to make the natives settle down to steady industry, in order to secure to themselves some of the luxuries which use has made a necessity to them. As Mr Carroll pointed out in his Hawtly address, tho Maoris have many estimable qualities, but nevertheless require a strong arm over them until use shall have somewhat altered their character and made it as strong as that of the Pakeha. Until the details of the scheme are formulated it is impossible to have an opinion as to its probable success or failure. The principle is certainly better than that which has prevailed of late years, ef making the drovernment the greatest land jobbers in the country, and acting on the much condemned plan of buying in the cheapest market aud selling in the dearest, with tho additional turn in their favour, that the vendors could only deal with them, they holding the power to fix the price.