TO CURE DEPRESSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2554, 15 July 1909, Page 3

TO CURE DEPRESSION.

SWELL THE EXPORTS. BY USING NATIVE LANDS. SUGGESTIONS BY MR E. NEWMAN, M.P. At the deputation which waited upon the Hon Mr Millar, Minister for Labor, Mr Edward Newman, M.P. for Manawatn, in the course of his remarks, suggested that one solution of the unemployed question was to get as many as possible of the unemployed on to the land. Interviewed by a representative of the “Dominion” Mr Newman more fully explained his views on this question, and also in a matter of paramount and pressing importance to the whole Dominion, namely, the profitable development of the surplus Native lands. “I want,” said Mr Newman, “the same facilities offered to the unemployed men who are willing to undertake the work as the Government hare offered to public servants who have been retrenched. ,1 am glad to see that the Hon. Mr Buddo has acted on this suggestion, according to press reports, and I trust he will be able to find suitable blocks of land for the scheme, and that it will prove to the advantage of workers out of employment and eventually to the State. The only thing I fear is that, on account of the Government’s determination not to give the right of purchase, men will not tackle the job with much heart. Men want the incentive of a bit of land they can call their own. to bring out their best efforts. Needless to sav, I sympathise with this feeling.” MINISTRY NOW ADMITS DEPRESSION. “Unemployment,” added Mr Newman, “has many causes—tightness in money, fall in value of produce, certain labor legislation that practically prevents the employment of casual labor, both in the country and in the town, and general want of confidence. The Government until lately did not admit the existence of depression, but now the Hon. Mr Millar—and I feel sure this action has added to his reputation —has done so. In his speech he has placed the situation plainly before the country. He says, in effect, we must either curtail our expenditure, or borrow more millions, o r increase taxation; and he had the courage to reiterate what ho has .previously stated, that in his opinion we have about reached the limit of nur power to borrow safely. Our debt in 1891 was about £38,000,000n0w it approximates £71.000,000. Still tbe cry is for public works in the cities and from the country. Mr Millar mentioned that £200,000 was about to be spent on two public buildings—one in Auckland and one in Woffington. One cannot help thinking that, however necessary these buildings a re, that £200,000 would have been better spent on roads and bridges, and land settlements, thus increasing the number of producers in the. Dominion largely, providing homes, and a ipermanent living for many men who arc now classed amongst the unemployed. BORROW, TAX, OR GO WITHOUT. “The position, then, according to the Hon. Mr Millar, is that we liavo two courses open. Reduction in expenditure on public works, or largely increased borrowing or more taxation. I think there is another road open to ,soundnational prosperity. We must increase our exports without any delay that can be avoided. The exports of this country should exceed tbe imports by at least 3j millions to make the financial position sound. There is only one way to bring about, the result indicated, viz!. by immediate action in tbe direction of close settlement of our remaining! Crown and Native lands, and by releasing the large sum nf money.that is now sunk in lends held by tenants tinder flip Land for Settlements. Act., in orde® that further estates suitable for close occupation may be acquired and resold to small farmers. But the greatest difficulty to Ive overcome is in the direction nf settlement by Euronoans of the surp’ns Maori lands. 1 desire to sav here that I have for yeans lived in rt district where there are many Maoris, hut I have, never dealt in an aero of Maori land in my life; and. further. T would not he a party to any in justice to the Maori race, for whom I have the greatest admiration. MAORI'S SALVATION: WORK. NOT RENT. “But I contend the present Native policy is neither in the interest of the -Maoris nor of the Dominion. It is not in the true interest of the Maoris to make them a rent-receiving class—to provide them with n living without labor. I believe the salvation of the Maori race lies in their having to work for their living, as our settlers do. The Maoris, as a people, have been treated by the Governments of New Zealand with more than liberality. Under the Treaty of Waitangi the title of all lands occupied by Maoris was recognised, but will any sane man contend that at that period the Maoris ‘occupied’ the vast (docks of land in the interior of the North island, of which we have declared tliov .“-e owners? It was not so. The. Maoris chiefly occupied the frontages to the rivers, and to the sea coast in places, but the back country, except in some isolated instances, was to all intents and purposes noman’s land. The time has now come that these lands, after ample reserves have been provided for the Maoris, must bo settled, in small blocks, with careful reaggregation —and on a tenure that will give the occupants the right of purchase in order to ensure early settlement, and full and rapid development. SETTLEMENT TO PRECEDE INDIVIDUALISM. “The Government, for the last seventeen or eighteen years, have been s'owly, and with marveffcaw deliberation, individualising the titles of the Natives. 1 contend that settlement of the surplus Native land must take place first, and individualisation of title can be made afterwards. Neither the ’and nor the Natives will run away. When Europeans block settlement, we take the estate under the Land for Settlements Act—after paving for it, as a rule, generously. Why should we not, do the same with Maori lands? I would not roh the Maoris of one penny, but 1 believe that we must settle the country in order to save ourselves from a financial crisis, and it is quite clear that the present Native policy will never do it. The position <>f the Dom-

inioz', with the produce of millions of acres now unproductive, added to its export trade, would be very _ much sounder than it is now. No injustice need be done to the Natives, and our lands would be occupied by a community of industrious settlers, with holdings strictly limited in area, but sufficient for their reasonable wants; whilst the vlaoris would have, in the hands of the Public Trustee, or otherwise, invested, large sums of money, the proceeds of the sale of their surplus lands, and would also have reserved to them sufficient land on which to earn their living as their fe'low-settlers do. “This matter,” concluded Mr Newman, “presents many difficulties, and it would be necessary to borrow for the roading, etc., of thi3 land, but a loan, earmarked for this purpose, would be a good investment for the Dominion. The question must be faced, and it is to be hoped that Parliament will approach this subject with a determination to settle it, and seek for a solution that wil' be just and beneficial to the Natives, and, at the same time, wil] provide for the speedy settlement of tlieir surplus lands, which now, to a large extent, form the waste lands of the Dominion, more especially in the North Island.”