FREE TRADE IN NATIVE LAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1877, 17 July 1884, Page 3

FREE TRADE IN NATIVE LAND.

TO THK KDITOR. Sir, — This is a most important question, and the more I think the more I am convinced it is a sham, and only likely to lead to bloodshed and confusion. As an example, let me point to the Pukokura case now so piomuiently befoietho country tor the last year All the available machine! y of the R.M. Court lias been brought into requisition ; the Supienic Court, its officers and sheriff; and if it «ould end heie it would be all right, but no man knows the hour an angry word or a blow may result in bloodshed. When Tim Sullivan was murdered, the lesourees of the Defence Department were stiained to put the frontier in a state of defence. By that woid I meau that part of it over this piece of free tiado purchase. Armed Constabulary weio conccntiated, militia and volunteeis cilled out, the country put to vast expense and confusion, CambiidgeanclTo Avvamutu oa\ahy called from their own homesteads to protect the dtainci'a and stockmen on this property — I say thispiopeity because the cavalry partrol did not extend to Alexandia 01 down the Waipa, where natives and Eiuopeans lived side by side most inn cably. The dispute centied round this one block, from which the public ne\ er received one penny benefit, and yet have been compelled to expend fiom liist to last in its defence upwards ot €100,000 The scenes we read of lately in the ejection cases I consider a disgrace to our vaunted civilisation, and feel ceitain an injustice has been done the natives or they would not be so peisiatent. Sir, if this is a specimen of free trade, what must be the result in ten years time, as these free tiadcrs or land rings are spreading over the country like a tidal wave ; and when our boys now at school mow to, man's estate, and go out to look for a home, tney will be like the dove cast from the Aik, unable to find a resting place for their feet. Kleclois ! The candidate who will not swallow John Biyce's Land Bill bolus bolus, 1 eject him. Let theie be no shuffling or lodging but swallowed straight like a pill fora foul stomach. As an opposite picture to the above, let me quote the result of the lease of the much-abubeJ thermal springs (abused by interested paities who wish to thwait the Go\ eminent for their own pin poses.) After making most hbeidl endowments for chaiitable and educational pui poses, town and subiuban sections were submitted to public competition. The lesult of the sale was two hundred per cent above the upset price fixed by the natives and their agents. The leason foi this is not fai away. In the first place the title is guaranteed by the Crown ; in the second place the natives- aie lesident landloids ; the icnts so paid are constantly circulated in the district, and this, Sir, I consider most satisfactoi v , and only the thin end ot the wedge for the nationalization of tbe land. If cities, boioughs, or schools can lease their land so that m the immediate f u tin e immcnce levenucs may be cleaved from it, why cannot the lands of the public be leased in die same manner ? The ai m of Mr Bryce is to lease native land. They become lesident landloids. The aim of the land i ing is to get native land at any puce. The natives squander the money and become paupeis, and if these lands should evei be cut up into medium-sized farms, foieign capitalists become our landlords, and a constant diain on the labour and resouices of the country. Klectois, make no mistake. John Bryce has appealed to you. Never let it be said the appeal is in vain. Vote for no man w hose honesty you cannot fully and freely trust. Cast your eyes on the East Coast. One large land ling, backed by able men and millions of wealth, have sent out thice agents to contc&t as many constituencies ; Rees, De Lautour and Cannon, and how many moie 1 cannot tell, but its for you to cxeicise caution in this contest, ai,d lally round John Biyce. —I am, &c, Waipa.