The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1911.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3349, 16 October 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times . PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1911.

The Native Land Problem.

I It should not como as a great surprise if the Ward party now decides to adopt a much more progressive policy with reference to the settlement of the large areas of remaining idle Native lands. That even the representatives in Parliament of that party are anxious to see a big step taken in that direction was, we think, amply shown two years ago, when six prominent Ministerialists went so far as to vote with the Opposition on a no-confidence motion which deprecated the comparatively small amount of settlement that was taking place both as regards Crown and Native lands. For the purpose of showing that the Government will have to “wake up” in this matter, it is hardly necessary on the present occasion, we feel, to discuss at length the circumstances which have led to the continual existence of a very unsatisfactory state of affairs in connection with the surplus Native lands. Too long have Sir James Carroll, and, latterly, also the Hon. A. T. Ngata made it appear to their colleagues in the Ministry that the Native is still entitled to just as much, or at any rate to nearly as much ‘‘special protection” as he has received of late years. Nobody, we are sure, would like to see injustice of any kind done the Natives with the sanction of Parliament, but the Ministers in question do not see—or rather are not inclined to see—that it is possible to afford ample protection to the Natives without going to the extent of “mollycoddling” and “spoon-feeding” them. One has only to read the speeches by Sir James Carroll and the Hon. A. T. Ngata on the subject during the last year or two to realise that they are determined that the brake shall be kept on with reference to Native land settlement as long as they have anything to do with the matter. “The European,” remarked Sir James Carroll in the course of the notable speech which he made in the House last session, “has had the light of ages of civilisation shed upon him, yet you expect the Maori within the short space of sixty years to come into line and be abreast of him. Give him a fair handicap and make allowance for the difference in conditions,” etc. The “fair handicap” which the Natives would doubtless like to continue is the enhancement, of the value of their holdings as the result of the efforts of the Europeans! Or take what the Hon. A. T. Ngata said so recently as early this year when Sir James Carroll and himself went on tour in the South Island. “There was a proposal,” he remarked at Dunedin, “to put the Maori on the same footing as the white man. It was certainly a compliment to the Maori people to propose such a thing. But the Opposition was right in saying that two men had delayed the attainment of that policy, and that those two men were Sir James Carroll and himself,” etc. Exactly, but the electors are now only beginning to fully realise the true position! Now it seems to us in this connection that it is a very good thing for the Dominion that the two “seatless” Ministers— Sir John Findlay and the Hon. T. Mackenzie—together with Mr. R. McNab, ex-Minister for Lands—all happen to be in quest of North Island seats. They will soon find—if they are not already aware of the fact—that there is a very strong and widespread feeling throughout this island against the continued locking up of such large areas of surplus Native lands. By the way, it is—is it not?—surprising under the circumstances that the Reform Party has not eve this taken steps to have the whole question of Native land legislation and administration threshed out in connection with the local seat, which is, as everybody knows, the Native Minister’s stronghold. There are, however, signs that the subject will be the cardinal feature of the election in connection with the Bay of Plenty seat. It will, therefore, be of especial interest to watch how Mr. Macdonald, who it must be borne i:i mind is the junior Whip for the Ward Administration, will fare on this occasion. But to return to the position of the two Ministers and the ex-Minister, who are in addition to the Ministers resident in this island, endeavoring to secure North Island seats. Sir John Findlay, it will have been seen, has already faced the problem which the large areas of unutilised Native lands present. Add what does he say? Wo quote from the “N.Z. Times” report of his speech at Parnell: “When the country had satisfied itself that proper protection had been given to the Maori, and that the areas reserved were sufficient for their needs, the Maori must l>e treated precisely as the European. He believed that the day was not far off when with the heightened standard of education among the race special representation of the Maoris in Parliament would be unnecessary. The Maori, as that day neared, must bo placed in the same position as th? European in regard to .the duties of citizenship and the use of the land he owned. That day was coming fast.” But Sir John Findlay is reported quite differently in the Auckland papers. For instance, this is the “Herald’s” version of his remarks on the subject Dealing with the Native land question, Sir John submitted that

the time had arrived when the Maori should be dealt with the same as the European. After they had satisfied themselves that a sufficient area had been reserved for the Maori, the remainder of the land must be subject to compulsory acquisition. Legislation would be introduced in this direction. In the years past they had sc educated their Maori brother that he was now able to undertake the duties of citizenship equally with other people, and he was of opinion that the day would soon dawn when the special representation now given the Maoris would not be neeessarv, and would lie dispensed with.” There "is such a wide difference between the two reports that it is clear that the on „ in the Wellington journal represents only what he intended to say on the question before he left for Parnell. Wo arc now anxiously awaiting to hear what the Hon. T. Mackenzie and Mr. R, McNab have to say on tins important subject.