NATIVE AFFAIRS. [SPECIALLY COMPLIED.]

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1245, 22 June 1880, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS. [SPECIALLY COMPLIED.]

It is now some time sinrje I addressed you on West Coast matters In my l;\bt I gave you a brief history aud character of Te Whiti, that your readers might judge of his probable future action. I notice that an Opunake correspondent criticises the history I gave, but your correspondent has had thi-ee or four years' native experience, and I have always noticed that persons who have been a short time among natives always pretand to a much greater knowledge of natives, and native matters th in old colonial residents, ov even the natives themselves. I have known Te Whiti 's grandfather and family for about 35 years, and the history 1 gave you was Te Whiti, a own version of his parentage. Your correspondent must have been greatly misinformed. Since I last wrote you, the interim repoi't of the Royal Commission on native affairs has been published, and the report has provoked various criticisms from various newspaper reporters and a portion of our West Coast local Press. It may be noticed, however, that the criticisms emanate from persons who have a very superficial knowledge of the question or difficulties that simound it. They blame the Commissioners for giving the natives too large reserves. They appear to have no knowledge or be aware that the blundering or inaction of succeeding Governments for the list 15 years has led to the present complications, and the necessity of giving larger reserves than might have sufficed had the Waimate confiscated lands been taken possession of and occupied at the time other lands were occupied by millitary settler-*. But this was not done. The natives south of Waingongoro had reserves laid off within the limits of which they settled. North of Waingongoro no reserves were defined, and no land taken possession of by our people. The natives were allowed to reoocupy without any limit the whole of the confiscated land, and have been allowed to hold undisturbed possession for fifteen yetirs. Scattered as they now aie with villages and cultivations over a large portion of the W.umate Plains, denning their limit within reserves was a dimVult question. Probably the Commissioners have given the natives more than thay would had they been called on to define reserve fifteen years ago when the natives south of Waingongoro had their reserves defined. But at that time the natives were subdued, and quite willling to accept the reserves allotted to them* They had been driven off their land, and were glad to return. In the question of the Waimate Plains block they were allowed to return and hold possession of the whole area, of about one hundred and fifty thousand acres, unmolested, for a period of 15 years. Under the circumstances, and surrounding difficulties, they could not have given less than the twenty-five thousand acres awarded by them. The Royal Commission, in their decision, took apparently a broad colonial view of the question. They lightly judged it better to give away a few thousand acres of land than risk giving cause for differences between the races thut might cos>t the colony millions in unreproductive war expenditure. Taranaki native difficulties have already cost the eoleny sufficient, without risking more by adopting the parsimonious, short-sighted, penny-wise policy some of our local poliHcal genuisss and newspaper reporters would have wi&hed the Commission to pxusue. The«e criticisers aro chiefly of a class to be found about townships men who have no colonial experience, do not understand the questions of which they tieat", have themselves nothing to lose by war, and do not take into consideration the exposed and defenceless state of many of our out settlers and bush settlements ; in their ignorant t-elf-conceit they advocate injndiciuiiß measures, and dictate to old and experienced colonial pohticans who composed the Royal Commission. Our pioneer country settlers view the question differently ; they understand the difficulties that beset the question ; many of them have lost heavily from former native outbreaks, and are anxious to see th.3 present native complications ended Jind confide) cc restored ; they are aware that the Commissioners, have taken the wisest course towards bringing the present complications to a peaceable conclusion. The policy adopted by the present Government (justice combined v ith a display of force) is the only one that can now succeed ; no negotiation, or argument, can work out the present West Cost difficulty. Veiy strong influences are working against the Government to induce the natives not to agree to our occupation of their lands, and the natives are only too ready to believe that the Government are acting illegally in their present action on the Waimate Plains. Under the circumstances, the only course is the one the Government have adopted — an exhibition of force. But a temporary exhibition of force would not meet the difficulty. The natives are at no expense, and can continue a passive opposition for any length of time, and until a favorable opportunity occurs to assert their rights to the lands in dispute. The Government are Avorking at a disadvantage ; they are at a heavy expense, that in the present financial state of the colony cannot long be kept up, and of this the natives are quite aware, aud often ask how long the money will last to pay the force now on the Plains. It is not to be supposed, nor is it likely that the natives will oppose any of the work's now in progress, while their relatives and some of their be3t men arc in gaol. The return of the priborers may or may not eventuate in a native difficulty. At the ibainc timo it is just possible th it the r«al dliliculty isjiiQt vow bjing_ tsatud,

and that the natives may be waiting for the return of the prisoners and reduction of the force to assert their claims. It is the general opinion of the outside public that the Government cannot long retain their present expensive force. If such is the case, means may be devised to provide a strong f ermanent force of less expensive character. It cannot be supposod that the natives are to be intimidated by a few months' exhibition of a temporary foice. The maintenance of a force will have to be continued for some years, to ensure a peaceful occupation of the Plains. The smvst and least expensive means to stamp out the native difficulty, and at the same time increase colonial lvveuue, was suggested in one of our local papers, Thei*e are about one hundred thousand acres of rich level forest land, the back portion of the plains. The suggestion is that this should be cut up in hundred acre allotments, and sold at two pounds per acre, on a ten years deferred payment, bearing five per cent, interest on two pounds per acre value. Tint the purchasers should not receive Crown grants until the expiration of the ten years, when the purchase money will be due ; and that during the ten years purchasers, or their substitutes, approved of, should reside on their allotments, be armed by Government, and obliged to attend militia parades monthly, orofteucr if required' receiving a fair remuneration for days required t0 attend drill instruction. The pi'opo^it on suggests a cheap moans of main' aining a strong ;iml penmncnt defence force, effectually occupying the land in the interior, giving' confidence and security to purchasers of the open lands and encouraging settlement and occupation generally. It would also be the means of occupying immediately a large tract of country (for which the Government would be receiving a fair interest) that otherwise would probably remain for many years unoccupied and unprofitable. The military settler scheme of former yea's proved a failure, as few of those who had lands given them settled ou them. But it failed because it was not a genuine settlement scheme The men served three years, in redoubt or on the field, and at end of their term of service land was given them ; but they wore not required or encouraged to occupy it. Many of them consequently sold their scrip without ever sec ng the land they got. But by the proposition above alluded to men would receive their land at the commenco ment of a term of service, and have to occupy it themselves, or by substitute, for a term of ten years. Taranaki has from her infancy resembled a weak and sickly child, requiring a deal of doctoring, and complained of as an expensive burthen to the rest of the colony. The disease .that has impaired her constitution and retarded her growth is known as native difficulty, A little activity would cure her of this disease, but she prefers .sitting listlessly on ihe sea shore casting expensive pebbles into the sea. Taranaki need nit continue a burthen to the rest of the colon} r ; she has ample resources within herself to cru^h out the native difficulty, and make herself one of the most prosperous portions of the colony. She has a large area, of unoccupied and fertile land, well watered and capable of carrying a dense population, But while the native difficulty exists persons do not care to invest and settle on those lands. The lands can be profitably occupied and the native difficulty crushed out It is only necessary to place the whole of the back country in the market on moderate and liberal terms as a means to induce its occupation by a large and dense population of young men, who would be willing and prepared to act as a defence force if required; and of the class required (colonial bushraeu and colonial farmers.' sons) numbers can be got from various parts of the colony if a liberal deferred payment system is adopted, and occupation of the back country by a class like this would effectually end the native difficulty in this part of the island. But the native difficulty per\ades a great part of the North Island, and it is a matter for consideration whether succeeding Governments have taken the most effective measures to stamp out the difficulty, or to meet that coming colonial difficulty, increasing taxation. The measures that would stamp out the one would considerably lighten the other. Taking a map of the North Island, it will be seen that a large portion of it is in the hands of the Government, laying waste and unproductive, not paying taxes or interest ; a still larger portion ot it is in the hands of the natives, who contribute little to the revenue, and nothing to land and propei ty tax ; and a very small portion of it is in the hands of a European taxpaying population. Consequently, taxation falls hea\ ily on the few now inhabiting a country capable of supporting a large population. A heavy public works expenditure has been entered into, necessarily increasing taxation, but sufficient efforts have not been made to encourage an increase of population of the small farm class, to assist paying interest on loans. The land laws are not sufficiently liberal to attract population and induce the rapid occupation of the lands by this useful class. More liberal land laws are in force in America, and also in some of the British colonies. The administration of Crown lands through New Zealand Waste Lands Boards doe& not tend to theiapid occupation of the country. Thuy appear to consider obtaining the highest possible land revenue of more importance than the rapid colonisation of the country. In the North Island it is important, as a means of crushing out the native difficulty, to increase population, and this can only be done by disposing of the land on liberal terms to induce its occupation. It is also a question worth consideration whether the interests and prosperity of the colony would not be advanced (by increase of population) if private companies were allowed to purchase blocks of land direct from the natives, for the purpose of forming special settlements, under regulations binding them to cut up blocks purchased in moderate sized holdings, to be sold by public auction within a specified time after purchase. Such a course would be popular with, and facilitate the acquisition oi land from the native race, who have for many years regarded it as an injustic not being allowed to sell to others than the Government. This is not advocating private individuals being allowed to purchase direct from natives, and only that companies should be permitted to do so under regulations to from special settlements. From the earliest days of settlement to the present time that colonial incubus, the native difficulty has retarded colonisation. It has been a heavy expense to both islands of New Zealand, and in addition to the expense it has seriously retarded the advancement and prosperity of the North Island. Of late years the Native Office, although increased to be a very expensive institution, has been helpless to contend with the difficulty. Under the circumstances, this Government have, it appears, wisely decided to abolish it. The Maoris have become too republican to be negotiated with through the bribad influence of their chiefs. The outside pakeha-Maori influence had become too strong for Native Office officials to contend against, and tho Government have apparently decided on a firm policy and exhibition of power. The outside public are of opinion tli at in tho present financial condition ot tha colony it cannot maintain the ])io-ent lar^o force of Constabulary. ]f Uc pr<ys>y.ut ioi'cj i^l'JO. t}Xpoii:iivu> il lv,b 0

expensive one can be substituted as a military settler defence force, occupying the forest lands as described above, A permanent force occupying the back country would give confidence, and ensure the purchase autf rapid occupation of the open lands, and prove the cheapest means of ending the native difficulty. As a forty years' resident in this island. I look back with disgust at the length of time the native difficulty has 1 isted, and the confusion worse confounded, or rather complication* worse complicated, by fruitless and expensive negotiations. The present Government have made a firmer stand than any of their predecessors, and wasted neither time or money in fruitless negotiations ; they have shown a determined display of force and power — the only policy respected or that can succeed with semi- civilised races ; and if means can bo adopted to induce the rapid occupation of the country by a numerous population, the native difficulty will boon disappear and become a thing of the past. — K.Z. Timn.