NATIVE LANDS.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 303, 26 June 1909, Page 5

NATIVE LANDS.

A REPLY TO MR HOGG. , [press association.] WELMNGTON, to-day. Rof erring to the statement by Mr Hogg that the settlement of native lands in the King Country have been retained by speculators, Hon. J. Carroll, Acting-Premier, said that immediately lands were purchased by the Crown they came under the administration of\ the Crown Lands Board. A lot of development work then had to be done. Every lease and sale had to be approved by the Native Land Board, whose duty it was to see the terms were fair and the area of limitation under the Land Act strictly adhered to. Speculation might creep into every transaction, even in Crown lands. All the Government could' do was to see the limitation rigidly adhered to. Every applicant for alienation of Maori land has to make a statutory declaration as to the- amount of his holding. The boards satisfy themselves the statement is correct, and if the boards recommend a sale it must bo approved by the Governor-in-Council.