MAORI LAND MUDDLE

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 231, 23 June 1908, Page 7

MAORI LAND MUDDLE

FLAW IN THE ACT.

PROMISES AND PERFORMANCES.

ANOMALY AT KAWHIA,

It is Well-known thut ono of the objects of tho Native Lands Settlement Act of last session was to enable areas of Native lands not required by tho Maori owners for Native occupation to como into the open, market for Europwin settlement. The Native Land Commission has been, is still, and will be for somo time, reporting on these areas, «r,d recommonding tho positions to bo retained for tho Natives and the portions that aro to go to Europeans. Tho areas not required for tho Maoris are to bo invested in Native Land Bonds, and ono stipulation of the Act is that half of each block not so required for tho Natives is to bo sold for cash and half

leased. . The section of tho Act —Scction eleven bearing on this matter is as follows:— "(1) From timo to time so soon as tiny area of land has, by Ordpih-Coiincil, bocomo subject to this Act, tho Board in which tho same is vested shall, with tao. approval of the Nativo. Minister, divide such ' land into two portions approximately equal, and set apart ono of those portions for sa.e and tho other portion for leasing m accordance with this part of tho Act. . • "(2) Any such division may from time to time be varied, with tho consent of the Native Ministor, but every such alteration shall preserve a due' proportion as aforesaid between tho portions set lor sale or for leasing respectively.

AN AMENDMENT BILL REQUIRED. Somo little time ago it was foijnd impossible legally to carry tho above provision into operation through sonie difficulty in the matter of titles. Tho Native Land Court for a number of years has been validating individual titles in blocks of land, and in view of this and previous Native Land Court legislation difficulty has beeu found in dividing up the blocks. Tho result has been that, though tho Commission has been at work nearly two years, none of tho land sot aside for : European • occupation lias yet been handed over, to tho Boards for salo or leaso to Europeans. An amendment of tho Act will bo required before this can bo done. Ifc is also'worthy of noto that for some time past tho reports of tho Native Land Commission have been withheld from .publication. and tho conclusion is that this lias been found advisablo owing to the tacts stated above. Tho Government is able to withhold tho land so reported upon by tho Commission from alienation under Clause 10 of the Act of last • session, power being therein conferred upon tho Governor to prohibit all private alienation for any period not exceeding ono year from tho date ot such-order.- Tho stipulated twelyo months, however, will shortly elapse, .and tho time will have to be extended. It is understood a measure to amend the Act to enablo olcect to be given to the roports-.of tho Commission will be introduced this [session.

ECHOES OF LAST SESSION. Tho following excerpts from tho debate on. tho second reading of tho Native Land Bill of last session—the legislation referred to above—aro apropos of tho present position. Tho dobate took place on November <su, 1907., .. . - t ' a . Every wasted year meant the setting back of the country and the retardation' of tlie question of Native land sett.ement." —Tho Native Minister. • "Let this Bill bo passed for the present and next year have a largo and comprehensive measure." (Opposition laughter.) Native Minister. ~. Mr. Herries (Opposition).— Everything (under the Bill), had to .bei done. with tho consent of tlie Minister; tho Nativo Department had a; reputation for -slownoss, and with .this provision in operation ho was afraid very littlo progress would bo made during tho year. Ho was in favom of deferring tho Bill for another year to enablo the Natives' voices to bo heard. t -Mr. Massoy: " The present Bill is merely tinkering with tho matter!" _ The Prime Minister (referring to suggestions of Mr.. Herries to limit the scope of tho Bill to lands already reported upon by tho Commission) declared that this action would retard settlement for twelve months! Mr. Massey interjected: " How much will be settled this day twelve months? The Premier repliod: "That is not tho point!

SETTLEMENT RETARDED. POSITION IMPRESSED ON PRIME 3 MINISTER.. ] LOCKBD-UP AREAS HINDER ACCESS. ] (BI TELEGRAJH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Auckland; June 22. • • During liis recent tour of tho King Country the Prime Sinister was perhaps moro > linpressod by the great difficulty that conI fronted the Government in its efforts to ! settle the Nativo land trouble than by_ anythin" olso. At nearly every town visited tho "samo story was told by largo deputations about the impossibility of obtaining land that is Native-owned, and he was besought to try and open up somo of these locked areas. . . . ■ The most anomalous state affairs mtliis connection is to be found at Ivawliia. The Kawliia harbour is about 33 miles round from head to head, and the whole of a wide hplt of varying depth round tho coast line is Nativo land of line quality. Tho Natives do not uso it, and the white men cannot. Tho Native land is the' pick of tho district.' Tho Moorangi, Taumatotara, and Taharo Blocks contain respectively 45,000, 11 600 and 16,000 acres of Nativo land, and the total area of Nativo land in Ivawhia County alotio amounts to over 10U,0U0 aC AU this area is practically lying useless,, and it is almost impossible for a white set- :■ tier to get a legal title to a block. Tho land . availablo for settlement lies away from'the coast, and to roach it from the harbour the ' aforesaid bolt of Native land between five " and six miles in width and exceedingly - rough country, has to bo traversed, lho i whito sottlers havo had to pay rates for t tho making and upkeep of the one road • through, and it speaks well for the mdomitable pluck and perseverance of the New " Zealand pioneer that he has attempted the il task of wresting a living from primeval d Nature's stronghold when ho has to fust I overcome these disheartening obstacles.