NATIVE LAND SETTLEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 31, 31 October 1907, Page 9

NATIVE LAND SETTLEMENT.

GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS. A BILL INTRODUCED. The Native Land Settlement Bill was brought down by Governor's mossago yesterday aftornoon, but has-not; yet been circulated. I'h'o ; first clauses deal with ' the; vesting of land, ; in Maori Land-Boards. Ckrito 3 provides, that, .when, and as often as tho Royal Commission lias reported Ito the , Governor, wliothor beforo or within '. one year 'after tho passing of the' Act,' any' Native land is not required for. occupation., by .the Maori owners, and,is available, for, salo or leasing, it shall be lawful'to dcclaro that such land shall be subject, to the Act., All land which so becomes subject to tho Act. shall, bo vested in tho Maori. Land Board of the: district. Land, so vested .shall .-bo hcjld in: trust,; for. Maori' owners, but such owners ,aro not to have power of. disposition. Thorp are provisions for restrictions in regard, to powers of'alienation. In regard to . tho disposition 'of land by Maori Land Boards, tho Boards ,are to divido lands subject .to tho Act for purposes of sale and lease with the approval of tlie. Nativ'o Minister, into t\yo portions approximately equal, and sot, apart ono portion for salo and the other for leasing. Clause 14 provides, that' the maximum area to bo. hold 'by: anyoho person shall' not exceed a total of 5000 acres; as provided in subsequent clause's.- ;.For..the purposes of this section tho interest of a Maori in "any land that lias not . boon, partitioned shall not bo deemed to bo land owned,'held,', or occupied by -such Maori, ,111 the. computation of the total area mentioned, every aero of''first-class land 'shall bo reckoned: as ,7J .acres, and every aero of 1 sccoiiiUcla'ss land as"2J acres." " . Land'set apart for salo under the autho'rity -o'f the Act', shall be, sold by tlio Board by public"'auctioii or tender after public notification to. the highest biddor or highest' tenderer.. ' 'Tile Board .in' offering the'samo for sale shall ' fix' an upsot price to bo approved by tho Native' Ministor, and no land shall bo sold below the price so fixed. : Ton!per ccnt. 'of.tho purchase money must ;be paid on acceptance. Five per cent! intorist'is .to"be;'paid• on' -all 'purchase money unpaid. 'The of the 'Land Act 1892 in .regard to'''residence, etc.,, aro ,' to apply. ' A" purchaser Ms to bo entitled to a transfer .of-'tho, ffid simple of tho land after five years :i if lie'has _jsaid : the whole of'the purchasMiibi'iey-and'interest 'to .date. Leases are to" bo by'public auction or tender. " 1 V' ! '

All sucli land may • be-leased for any term which the Board, with the Approval of' the Native Minister, thinks fit, not exceeding u term of fifty years; without right of renewal; but evory such leasq : must take. effcct in possession .within after the date of : the grant; thereof.;,Vi ;,. t ; t . There., is; pi;ovisioli;;. for , valuation . for ..iih'prov.omqnts,;.and'i a record, of such improvements being, noted, from ,timo ,to time., ..There are provisions in. tho Bill, in, regard to jjransr. fors.and.suljrleasesj/and 'registration of titles. Advances of, Public Works Fund for surveys roading,' etc., are no land is to bo offered for salo or' lease',vntil. it is satyisfactorily roaded, and- bridged.', ,There.j'is •power for the, Govorn'or ,tp rcmoye any Maori .Land Board that fails, tp act .'with duo dili•gerice. ' ' I. Certain lands are tb\bc;sc.t.asidc for leasing to Maoris, and' Europoans'lcaiiiiot deal .in these lands. '