LOCKED UP LANDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2603, 10 September 1909, Page 2

LOCKED UP LANDS.

THE POSITION ! N WAIAPU. AN INTERESTING IXTEGVIEAV. For some time past the question. o: tiio Joeked-up Native lands in P c ’G iapi! Comity lias been attracting considerable attention. and very recently the matter has been repeatedly lx;fore the public, the general expression of opinion king condemnatory of the policy of the Government in not making available for settlement the vast areas of land at present lying idle, and, according to appearances, likely to remain idle. In this connection a “Times” representative had an interesting chat yesterday with a well-known settler from that district.

Asked as to the general position of the Waiapu lands at present, the gentleman replied that the position is simply that practically ail the available lands in the Waiapu county are barred from pakeha occupation and settlement, as by the report 01 the Native Land Commission it has been recommended that they be reserved solely for Maori use and occupation. There are, however, certain papatupu lands which have been recommended for the purpose <jf leasing to Europeans, and a portion of these lands also have been ear-marked to be retained for the use of the Natives. “All the plums, the host portions of the land, have been taken out for the Maoris,” he remarked, “and only the poorer land has been recommended to he left available for settlement. In the opinion of the gentleman inter vie wed it would be muelx better tor the Maori himself if all the lands were first leased to Europeans, even il afterwards reverting to the Maoris, as such a course would make the land more lit for the occupation of the less qualdied Maori owner after improvements had been effected by the European lessee. “There is no reason,” lie continued, “why any .Maori should hold and occupy land to the detriment of his brother owners in a block, nor is there any reason why he should do so to the distinct disadvantage oi the district on account of general rating and other purposes. Already a great number of blocks have been occupied for many years, in most cases to the detriment and disadvantage of the Native owners themselves, who would have derived much more benefit had the land been first leased to Europeans. -Many blocks in the vicinity of Waipiro and Tuparoa are at present leased by Europeans, but the leases will shortly expire, and then this land will be given back in a thoroughly improved condition to the Natives, who will thus reap the benefit of an unearned increment.'’ Tho next query of the reporter was in relation to the fitness of the Maori to profitably occupy the land, and it elicited the reply that if the Maoris were able to make full use of the land nobody could or would make any objection. Also, while the population ol the Dominion is over a million people on the last census, tho Maori population was shown to bo 47,000, which number includes all women, children and half-castes, and of tlios how many are producers ? “Why,” asked the gentleman, “should immense areas comprising millions of acres, lie set aside for the use of about one-lnth of the Maori population, so lew ol whom are fitted to go on the land at all F 15v adopting the recommendations of the Commission,” lie continued, “a system of Maori landlordism will lie instituted which it should be the aim of the present democratic Government to avoid. I consider it a disgracotul and deplorable tiling that this whole county should be locked up, and practically made unavailable for settlement, rating, or auy other purposes.” “But are the Natives not to he rated the same as Europeans?” asked the pressman. “It is all very well for them to say that tho Maori will have to pay rates tho same as the European,” was the reply, “but that is merely talk. You will notice that tho Maoris are to pay rates when they come into “profitable, occupation.’ Now how many years will you have to wait to see the Maori come into profitable occupation of his land, and why, at any rate, is the same privilege not extended to the European settler who has been heavily rated from the start?” On tlie question of the possible advantages to both Maori and European by a system of free trading, tlie gentleman interviewed was most emphatic. “All the East Coast country,” he said, “began to go ahead when free trading existed between the two races, and in many instances the Maoris received much larger sums for their land from private individuals than they did from the Government. Then, of course, there was a good deal of preliminary work to be got through in connection with any deals. The cases came before tho Trust Commission and general progress was made, much more so than lias been the case since. There is at present a whole lot of work put on to the Board which in the past had been much better worked between the individual lessees and the Maoris themselves. Then many Maori leases had boon granted straight out to tenants approved by the Native owners, and who had in many cases assisted the Natives by advances against rent, etc., for some purpose." In the earlier stages,” he added, “the leasing of largo blocks as the land was then, was all right, but now, with the land in an improved condition, those blocks should be cutup into smaller settlements. The Maoris should bo put in a position to be able to deal with their land as they think fit and to lease it, sell it, or occupy it, according to their desire.” “What is your opinion as to the work of the Native Land Commission?” was the next query. “There is no doubt that the work of the Commission has greatly added to the burdens of the Maori,” was the r eplv, “as its recommendations will hare the "effect- of blocking the Natives who are only too willing to lease their lands to the" pakeha. Possibly the Maoris may bo able to re-lease tlieir lands after tho" present leases expire, but tho recommendations of the Commission have been most distinctly to the effect that they shall not return to the old system of leasing their lands to tlie white people. The enormous expense involved

by the Commission has been utterly useless, and the result lias been simply t.o destroy the individuality of the Maori and practically isolate him.” Asked as to whether the evidence tendered before the Commission was thoroughly representative of the Maori people, the gentleman being interviewed said that, in his opinion, it- was not, as it was only a comparatively small section of the Maoris gave evidence before the commission. Also, in some instances,, many of the Natives would like to see the recommendations reversed, as they would be willing to lease to a pakeha, forsooing that they could not provide money for the c-0.-.t of improvements. “It is very doubtful indeed.” he added, “if the Maoris really know the intention of the Commission, or whether they did not simply agree to ‘something new,’ in a manner characteristic of the race.” A question as to the general trend of Native land legislation elicited the opinion that while a lot has been said about giving the Maori full rights of citizenship, vet the tendency of the present-day legislation is to coddle him too much. The Maori is now out of the days of his infancy, and is quite a match for his pakeha brother, so that any question of special protection is absurd. He is now much more able to protect himself, and yet his individuality is being destroyed, and ho is being surrounded more and more by sooa’led “protecting” legislation. Tli9 whole legislation lias been much- too intricate, and could easily have . been simplified by giving the Maori his full rights, and" by establishing central Courts to deal with tho cases, but not by reducing the staff of Native Land Court Judges, just when they are most needed. “The whole system seems to wrap tlie Maori in a web. binding him hand and foot to do simply as he is told. The needs of the pakeha a re, t-o-dav. the needs _ of the Maori, who, although ho may live a little cheaper, cannot, on account of being, in the majority of cases, totally unfitted, lie successful oil the land. Give the Maori his full rights as a citizen of the Dominion, and if some/ do go to th<* wall, the remainder will soon learn not to do so. At present, the Maori the position of the unfortunate by in the tremendous cobweb of legislation. The individuality of the Maori will never be established by pampering him, any more than you can make a man run by tying his legs.”