WAIAPU NATIVE LANDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2508, 22 May 1909, Page 3

WAIAPU NATIVE LANDS.

[To Tun Editor.]

Sir, —As one of the pioneer settlers m the East Cape district, 1 have been hoping that some abler pen than mine would! ere this, have taken-up the cause of the European settlers in that district, in relation to the land policy m the Hon. Apirana Ngata. . Whatever .may be the moaning, ot the platitudes with which the Hon. Apirana Ngata charms his hearers m the House, it is the general opinion m his native, district that he will .(with possibly a few exceptions) use his influence to endeavor to prevent any further European settlement in the northern Waiapu district, and the report of the Native Land Commission seems to lend color to this idea, for that icport struck me as being an entirely onesided affair, one member of J.he Commission seeing only just what the othci member intended he should see, am learning only just what the other member intended lie should learn bo i«u so good—hut in justice to the Eui opean settlers in the northern Waiapi district as taxpayers and countrymen of the- Dominion (most of them, Crown tenants), I think we can rightly claim to ask the Government to give us a assurance on this question one va <> the other. If tluvHon Apirana N«ata is to be allowed to block. all tuitliei European ’settlement in the district in Son then' I think it behoves the settlers already there to seriously consider whether in the best interests oj themseVes and their families tho should not petitimi pai. such legislation as. shall -eitable them ) he bought out, and then r turned to the Maoris, so thi . lt a! 101 -i roApirana Ngata may have a. Maou u ;i™ in .'Vliicli to try f mior to tlio- Wort of tlio iCnst Coast

porience working, in tlie back-blocks of Maoriland. driving to push forward, . even a little, that progress and civilisation which must assuredly come to a I standstill for many years if tho Hon. ] Apirana Ngata is enabled to block European settlement. I do not wish to infer that none or the Afaoris are fitted to become good settlers and slieepfarmers —there are many intelligent men among them who, under proper pakeha guidance, would in time become such, and these men, I think, realise that the advancement of the Alaori must come through the cordial co-opera-tion of the pakeha. Nearly seventeen years’ experience of the Native race lias made me of the opinion that the solution of the Native land problem is not to be found for the Maori by the Maori, Trusting this letter may draw opinions from others who are better qualified to speak on this question than myself,—l am etc., " ’ JOHN BIDDLES. •To Araroa.