NATIVE LANDS

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 4, 25 September 1878, Page 3

NATIVE LANDS

A retired Indian Judge, Mr E. C. G. Thomas, has lately been visiting the native districts on the West Coast of the North Island, aud has endeavored to instil into the Maori mind novel idea as to dealing with native lands. The retired judge has been regarded as a mischievous interloper by the European settlers, and a section of the Press has urged upon the Government the necessity of putting a stop to the newcomer exciting the native mind on the most difficult question whicli has engaged the attention of Ministers. In a communication to the New Zealand Times, Mr Thomas thus states his idea on the land question : Sir, —Of the three advantages offered by’the perpetual lease the most important perhaps is the creation of Crown lands property. At present land is being duly parted with by the State in perpetuity. We are living not on our income, but on our capital. We call it land revenue, but the term is a misnomer. It is a land windfall for the year. With each sale we forestall in that year what posterity will have complainingly to make good in other ways. We are consuming in annual bonuses what might be a valuable reserve fund for the nation. The opportunity is now in our hands for creating a large landed estate for the nation—for retaining for the future expenses of Government the rental from 10,000 square miles. It is the opportunity of the present moment, aud will never recur on a similar scale. Shall it be used or thrown away ? Much has been said pro. and con. as to the State being the landlord ; but the majority of political economists will, I believe, be found to agree in desiring a compromise, a balance, in which each system checks and improves the other. The most* perfect state of things for a community is for part of the land to be in the bauds of private individuals and part in the hands of the State. It is just such a position that now offers itself. Roughly speaking, half of New Zealand is at present in the hands of Europeans or in the market for them ; the other half is unsettled Maori land. It is because of the great national opportuntiy that appears at this moment to be before us, and which if not accepted will pass away, that I press for a consideration of the subject at the present time. To the Maori it may be said, “ This proposal secures a competence to you and your heirs for ever ; ” to the Englishmen, “ Thus you obtain a landed estate without purchase in the present, anil thus you create a valuable national property in the future, if the present aboriginal race pass away.” This in luncholy doom seems inevitably before them. Let us as honest neighbors do them justice, if not more, whil ■ they exist as a r i«- *, and secure that th-1 heir to their vast domain, if heir there must be, is the nation, and not a few private individuals—land speculators.—l am, &e., E. C. G. Til imas.