A SORTH ISLAND MINISTER

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2488, 29 April 1909, Page 2

A SORTH ISLAND MINISTER

Mr. Hogg takes a very different view of his southern colleagues when looking over the North Island. Having no ignorances to overcome he not only sees the natural advantages of the North, but puts his finger at once upon the weak spot in our land administration. Speaking in Auckland, the other day, of the possibility of roading, improving, and making the Ring Country ready for population with the help of its hardy settlers, he touched fearlessly upon the Native Land Problem. Said the Minister for Roads and Bridges: “The Native difficulty, of course, stands in the way, and it seems a pity that* oceans of splendid land, should be growing nothing but bush and bracken. The sooner, in. my opinion, that the State places this land -in the hands of thrifty settlers the bet- : ter for the Dominion, its wealth, and its exports. Such is the character of the soil that I think it lamentable that one single acre should, be locked up against the landless settlers now sufferii°g from the earth hunger.” So impressed was the Minister with the possibilities of the country. It is impossible to think Mr. Hogg will allow the “taihoa policy of ; the Government, upon the Native Land question to continue.— •“New. Zealand Herald.”