The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1910. THE FUTURE OF KAWHIA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2743, 23 February 1910, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1910. THE FUTURE OF KAWHIA.

The Hon. Dr Findlay, Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, recently paid a visit to Kawhia by wav of the King Country and like most others uho make their first appearance in that greatly neglected portion of the Dominion, l:e was amazed at its possibilities.

“It is impassible," said the Minister, “to escape the feeling that Kawhia has not advanced as much during the past decade as it should iiave done, considering its splendid harbor and the rich and fertile lands which surround it. Kawhia is practically surrounded by land held by native owners. The great difficulty which lias been experienced in obtaining titles over native land has seriously impeded progress and settlement.”

Precisely, and this is exactly the state of affairs which is also keeping back the (progress or a- great portion of Poverty Bay, and the territory reaching up to the East Cape «nd the Bay of Plenty. And the Government of which Dr Findlay is apparently satisfied to be a member, is chiefly responsible for the shocking mismanagement- whereby fertile lands have been withheld from settlement. The Minister mentioned that the new Native Land Act provides for the expenditure of £500,000 per year in acquiring native la-lid, adding: "The people of Kawhia were encouraged by this to hope that some of the large and fertile areas there might- be acquired for European settlement;” Here again we are in the same plight as the Kawhia folk. We too have been encouraged by the (provisions of the Native Land Act- as we have been encouraged on numerous other occasions, by the smooth-tongued platitudes and vague promises of the Native Minister when stumping the district at election time. It is true that the latest Land Act does mark an advance on previous legislation, but, as' we pointed out at the time it was passed, a vigorous administration is ■ necessary in order to give it any practical value. Of this vigor there has yet- been no- sign, and so long as Native affairs arc in the hands of the Hon. Mr Carroll we arc likely to look in vain for it. The Government may he taking some steps to give effect to the provisions of the Act, hut if so- they arc hiding their light under a bushel, and past experience is quite against the accuracy of such a- hypothesis. Laws, laws we have in plenty, but s o far os the material welfare of the .people is concerned they frequently amount to very little. Many good people gave a uheep of delight as they

noted the passage of the Native Land Bill last session, and thought of the excellent work that could be carried out as a result of its beneficent clauses. Poor, simple fools! It little occurred to-, them that once Parliament, was prorogued, Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues would give very little heed to a matter that had always been 'looked upon as little more than a beastly nuisance. “Native affairs!” If w.e had twenty new Bills instead of one the settlement of the waste areas would not advance one iota -until the Government of the day was prepared to take up the task whole-heartedly, determined to bring it to a successful conclusion.