THE NATIVE LAND POLICY.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1050, 18 March 1879, Page 3

THE NATIVE LAND POLICY.

Sin,— The Hon. F. Whitaker, in his recent speech at Cambridge, gave ex. pression to Borne remarks in reference to the Government native land policy, with which some of the Waikato settlers who live out of Cambridge will probably not agree. Mr Whitaker said, "Now, Sir George Grey wants the Government to get the native lands, and cut them up tn lots of 40 or 50 to 100 acres. This is iantamount to shutting up the native lands." Mr Whitaker forgot to mention what the Government intended to dowitfc these 40 or 50 to 100-acre blocks. Bowever, Mr Sheehan, some time since at gihikihi, did tell us that the native lands when purchased would be out up into Bmall and large blocks, and sold by public auction, giving everyone a fair field and \no favor. Mr Whitaker might have / explained, also, that this objectionable system of shutting up the native lands effectually prevents land speculators lending small sums of money upon large blocks of native land, and thereby placing the land in chancery for an indefinite period. If there is anything we in Waikato have sincerely to thank the present Ministry for it is— that the old system of private speculators acquiring large blocks of native land simply to hold for a future market is completely buret up, and that, when the native land is opened up, of which there never was a better prospect than at present, anyone will be able to purchase at auction good land according to his means, whether he is a millionaire or a poor man.— l am, &c, Waipa Settles. Whatawhata, March 17, 1879.