NATIVE LANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 180, 2 August 1938, Page 10

NATIVE LANDS.

CONTROL IN FUL

IMPORTANT PROPOSAL

SETTING ABIDE OF RESERVES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA.

An important proposal in connection with the control of native lands in Fiji was made by the Governor, Sir Arthur Richards, prior to his departure for Jamaica, at a function in Government House grounds, when he was farewelled by the Fijian chiefs. His Excellency said that in 1936 the Fijiane had asked the Government to control all lands not required by the Fijian people. In his opinion it would be best for the Government to pass a Native Lands Trust Ordinance, giving the Government power to deal with all the native lands in the colony. A commission, headed by the Fijian chief, Ratu Sukuna, could then be appointed and arrange with each mataqali (tribe) that certain lands be set aside for the exclusive use of Fijians. The lands not needed for the Fijians could be freed for leasing to others.

The bill would simply vest the control of all native lands in a board. The board would consist of four persons— the Governor as chairman, a native chief, the Commissioner of Lands, and the Adviser on Native Affairs. When the law had been passed, and the board had been constituted, a commission consisting of Ratu Rukuna and assistant* to be chosen by him would go round each province and settle what areas should be gazetted as native reserves. Land for Leasing. All lands outside of these areas would then be available for leasing. The Fijian would not only have his ancestral reserves to be handed down only to his descendants, but, in what might be called the free areas outside, he would have equal opportunities with others.

Once the bill became law there would be an alternative course to an investigation by a commission. Local committees would be appointed in each province, consisting of the district commis-

sioner as chairman, the roko or assistant native commissioner, one Fijian to be elected by the Provincial douncil and one Indian to be nominated by the Governor. These local committees, in co-operation with the Governor* Hoard, could gradually evolve a leasing policy and eo eventually define reserves. The leaee of free lands would probably be for 99 years, with terms as to rent and other conditions which would be erttled later on a eet scale according to the class and accessibility of the land. Although the control of these lands would be handed over to the Government all the profit would return to the Fijiane, subject, as at present, to the agency charge of 10 per cent paid to the Government for management expenses. What his Excellency wanted to do was to reserve for the use of the Fijiane not only all the land of which they were in effective possession now, but lar<*e additions to provide for the future needs of their sons and their sons' sons. Pledge of the Government.

These areee would be gazetted as native reserves and within those reserves no one except Fijiane would be able to own or lease land. One* gazetted, these reserves could never be cancelled except with the consent of the people concerned. The Government would pledge ite honour to observe that undertaking. "There have been instances in the past where after the native hes protested against leasing native land it hae been leaded and the native's objection over-ruled," said his Excellency. "This will never happen again in the lende to be marked native reserves. It ie poseible in the future that the native* might wish parts of their reserves to be eet free for general leasing, and it fe possible that the board and the Government might not aaree and decide that the land should etill be kept as a native reserve, in epite of the ownere' willinjrmean that the board was more careful ftfr? e i °t the Fiiianß and m °™ wanted than the ownere themselves, but the Fijiane could be assured that the reverse would never take place. If the Fijian owners wished to keep the land i?f C :? y l™°?l oard wnH never override that wish."

His Excellency added that it would probably take Ratu Sukuna and life etaff about two years to settle «tll native reserve*. During that time application* for new leases or the renewing of old leases would be carefully scrutinised by the district committees before thev were submitted to the Governor's Board and no applications likely to conflict with native reserve* would be approved Hw Excellency concluded by that, in his opinion. this wes *the only sure way of bringing to the Fiiians and tTieir country prosperity and lasting peace, and it would be for them to decide whether thev agree, and then for his successor and the Secretary of State to tell them of the decision.