Native Lands.

There would be more freehold land available for farmers in this country within the next two years than there had been during page 14 the past fifteen years. We had at present in operation a most efficient machine, the Native Land Commission. The Chief Justice (its president) had set himself to the task of solving, as he (Dr Findlay) believed he would solve, the greatest problem of the Worth Island—i.e., the native land problem. There were over 6,000,000 acres of native land in the North Island, and it was estimated that 2,500,000 acres of good land would be made available for European settlement by this Commission. This affected the sons and daughters of South Islanders. There would be abundant room for them in the North Island. The future of the North Island promised better things than the South. It was necessary for men of enterprise and judgment to go North and make a garden of the millions of acres now lying unoccupied. He would be in favor of Maori land being sold to those prepared to occupy and till it. There was a difference between native land and the people's estate. If it were a choice between a Maori landlord and a European he would say "Give me the latter every time." If these lands were to remain with the native race we would have a system of Maori landlordism, hut if could to the European settler we would escape this. It was a question of whether the land would remain with the Maori or the white man. There was no reason why native lands should not be sold to intending settlers. It was depressing to go through the North Island and see there how good land was lying under Maori ownership untitled and unused, while white men with families depending on them were being driven far back from the settled districts. They would have the native lands for free-hold and the breaking up of big estates, and these two things together would provide more land for them than for fifteen years past. He knew he was addressing a farming audience, and that much he had said was not in tune with their interests and feelings. They were all necessarily men and women seeking their own advantage. He knew a great deal of the Land Bill would not chime in with their views of proper land administration. Ho did not for one moment criticise that attitude, but he asked them to try and rise above any view of their own interests and say whether it was not for the Government to study the interests of the community, not only now, but for years to come. That was why they had introduced the Land Bill, which had been so much discussed and opposed