The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men. Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, AUGUST li, 1891.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2976, 11 August 1891, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men. Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, AUGUST li, 1891.

Parliament is to bo asked to grant the power to the executive Government to deal arbitrarily with lands still in the hands of the natives which they refuse to sell or lease, in order that they may, by settlement and cultivation, add to the wealth and population of the colony. It is proposed to secure the right to survey such lands and lease them to settlers on tho best terms procurable, tho proceeds, after cost of management, to be handed to those who have been declared the rightful owners, according to native custom; this system to hold good till such time as the owners are prepared to sell to the Government. It has long been obvious that a more speedy means than any of the many which have been cried would have to bo adopted. To tax the owners would bo futile, as it would bo impossible to oxact payment; it would bo figuratively attempting the impossible feat of extracting blood from a stone. 'Lb make tho tax a lien on tho land would bo practically confiscation, a measure which would be a broach of the historical treaty of Waitangi, a document which has in no small degree retarded the progress of the colony. There can be no doubt that had tho treaty been made by people undor any othor flag, so soon as thoy were strong enough, they would have rofused to be bouud by an agreement which prevented the onward march of civilization. Aside from the injury the colony suffers from such large areas of fertilo territory being uncultivated, the question has to bo considered in conjunction with the public works policy. In consequence of that policy, the colony is carrying a load of debt which is straining its resources to a most unhealthy degree. The reason of the Bill is the position which the owners of laud in the " King" territory have taken up. We have commenced the construction of a railway through this country, and the natives are fully alive to tho fact that its completion and opening for traffic must of necessity add to the selling value of the land which remains in their hands. This land, as wo have pointed out, p;iys no direct taxation, neither is it utilised to an appreciable extent and does not therefore increase tho arnouut of iudiroct taxation, by adding to the spending power of thoao who own it. If leased, as proposod it would do so, and in addition could bo made liable to tho same diroct lovy as are othor lands which have been alienated from tho Crown. It is an admittod fact that justice to tho natives no longer demands that their lands shall romnined untaxed, and that tho tirno has arrived when thoy should be treated in all respects in precisely tho sarno manner as tho' Europeans, The fact is empha- I

v.z"il l>y th>'ir utr>villiug , nuss to soil, m linly owing to their dosiro to not wlint Sir (j-Morgn Gioy would tonu ihe unp;irn"fl inurement, which Ims boon wholly rroatod by our sottloment of the country and the burden wi< have tnkori upon ourselves in order to dovelono its resources by tho construction of railways, roads, and bridges. As we have pointed out, it is impossible) to tax undor nxbting circu instances, consequently some means must bo adopted to recover some portion of the value which wo by our presence and expenditure have conferred upon the lands. We foresoo a difficulty in dealing with land which is boinp; fairly well utilized by the aboriginal owners. It would be manifestly unjust to impose a tax upon this land only and it would bo equally so to take possession of it under the power asked and loaso it to othors. Discrotionory power rosts with tho Govornmont of the day and thoy would no doubt leave such natives for tho time being in undisturbed possession of their property, resting content with the indirect taxation paid by tho cultivators. As we pointed out some time back, sections of natives are returning to the custom which prevaileu amongst them thirty years ago, of cultivating their land sufficiently to support themselves and leave a surplus sufficient to purchase the necessaries which tho land would not produce. It cannot therefore bo taken as sine qua uo>i that tho land must of necessity pass to the Pakeha or remain unfruitful and valuless. It appears to us that it might bo a right step, after survey, to impose the same tax as on European land, and if the tax be not paid within a given period that the Government should take control and lease in the terms specified, tho non-payment of the tax being accepted as evidence that the owners from a cause or causes, are unable to use it for their own benefit or that of the colony. This much is cloar justice to the European's demands that tho natives shall not scoop tho whole pool subscribed by their fellow subjects. The Bill will require the most careful consideration in Committeo in order that injustico shall not be iuflictod on tho nativos, and at tho same time, the rightful demands of European tax-payei'B acceded to.