The Waipukurau Press. Tuesday, May 1, 1906. NATIVE LANDS IN HAWKE’S BAY.

Waipukurau Press, Volume I, 1 May 1906, Page 2

The Waipukurau Press. Tuesday, May 1, 1906. NATIVE LANDS IN HAWKE’S BAY.

— o — The member for Napier appears to “rush in where angels fear to tread.” Recently a press representatiue had an interview with him in regard to native affairs in Hawke’s Bay,and Mr Fraser made allegations against the administration of the Native Department — commented on the failure of the Government to carry out the Maori Land Settlement Act of last session in the Hawke’s Bay district. Mr Fraser was fairly specific in his charges, which elicted a reply from the Native Minister, who gave the reason why no Board has yet been setup under this act in Hawke’s Bay that a fresh valuation of all the native lands must be made before the Board can do any work. Mr Fraser wants to know why the Board has not yet been constituted ? Session after session this question of native lands is brought up ou the floor of the House by those members who understand it. They ask why it is allowed to remain in its chaotic state without some vigorous attempt being made to grapple with it. And there is no doubt we seem to have got into a regular aissez faire attitude over this native land business. Years come and years go, and we appear to get no further, Ten years ago, or more, this colony was in the same position in regard to native lands as it is today. Huge areas of country lie idle ; the natives are willing to deal; and there the matter rests The cry that the “ pakeha shark ” wants to get hold of these areas cannot hold good, for under the European land policy the Government *• taboos ” the wholesale land grabber, and there is no need to fear that the native will not be thoroughly protected. The days are past when he couid part with his lands for a rifle or a blanket. The native will get a fair market price fvr his land, once it is made available. It is time we were done with academics and rhetoric, and came down io practical work. Air Fraser states that there are hundreds of thousands of acres awaiting administration by a Board that is at present, although authorised by law, still “in the air,” These immense areas should be brought under cultivation : one has only to travel along the East Coast of the North Isiaud to see how they are retarding settlement- We want to see the native fully protected; but while allowing him sufficiently large areas to live on, the surplus funds should be opened up. Perhaps next session will see definite action taken.

Replying to Mr Fraser’s charges the Native Minister informed a Wellington Times interviewer that “ there are not hundreds of thousands of acres lying idle and awaiting senl-ment as alleged. The fact is that nearly the whole of the Maori lands in Hawke’s Bay are at the present time under lease and in profirable occupation, carrying thousands of stock. The exceptions are so trifling as to be not worthy of consideration from the point of view of the present allegations. Those portions, chiefly agricultural, which the Maoris reserved for their own use and occupation yield abundant harvests every year. . . Almost every available area is under lease or profitable utilisation, and is not lying waste or idle, as alleged.”