WEST COAST SETTLEMENT RESERVES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 662, 12 November 1909, Page 8

WEST COAST SETTLEMENT RESERVES.

PREMIER ADVISES THE NATIVES Over fifty representatives of tho Ngatinianui Xgarauru, TaranaJu, },g4limaru, and Te Atiawa tribes* who had waited upon the Isutivo Mmistor (the Hon J Carroll) on i Monday with reference to the control of their lands which he between Waitotara and Wluteclifts, accepted an invitation to moot tho Pnmo Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) jestordny Mr. Te Rangihiroa (Dγ Buck), in introducing the Natives, said that up till now thev had remained in isolation. As their chiefs had died, thev dejsired to lake on themselves the burden of citizenship This was, he continued, their first official visit to Wellington It was their desire to 6ettlo on their lands and work them l'e Kohu Pnkoro raid that the object of their visit nas to ventilate a grievance relating to the control of their lands Under the law tho Public Trnstee was empowered to arbi tra.nl} lease their lands for all time, regardless of whether thoj had sufficient land for themselves or not Thev praved tint the leasing of their lands by the Public Trnstee should be discontinued, and that their lands now falling due dp returned to them The Prime Minister said that he was familiar with the troubles of the pist, and their as pirations They were, in his opinion, now taking a step which was in tho best interests of themselves and their families With regard to pas>t troubles be might remind them that the hands of the clock could not be put back It was impossible for the present Government t} undo the mistakes of previous Governments and Native loaders, who doubtless at the time thought they were di. ng what was in their interests He was glad that they were now out m the open, as the result must bo satis factor} to everjbody In connection with tho question of lands, he could -usurp them th->t the Government would do v hat it sould to help them If it had not been th-it tho Public Trustee Ind hnd control of land belonging to them the probabilities were that much of the land would have been sold pnd the monej would have been spent Ihe best wa> for the Maoris to ga'n the roSDect of the Europeans and the Government was for them to woik their lands They could depend it that the Government was against anv* mg that would detrimentally affect the Natives What the Government frit was that tho lands of the Dominion should be settled both bj Euro peans and Natives It was pleasing to noto that the Natives were taking an interest in. the dairving mdustrj Idle people, whether Europeans or Natives, did no good, they were bke horses that were kept a long time in a stabld He hoped to be able to pay a visit to their district as eoon as" it was convenient

"ALMOST GILBERTIAN. , STATEMENT BY IIR HERRIfis Mr Hemes, member for TauraMga, stated in the House yesterdaj that a {Teat deal of the difficulty , in ascertaining titles to Native land was due to the undermanned state df the Native Land Court It was almost impos ■able to sue a Native for rates under tho Native Rating Act, the position of which was .almost Gilbertian in its absurdity Ho hoped that the Nativo Land Bill would ho brought down at once, so that it might bo considered by the Native Committee Tho Hon James Can oil, Native MiniEtoi, said instructions had been issued to the Chief Judge to hold an Appellate Court as soon as possible to deal with titles to 50,080 acres The Native Land, Bill—a consolidating and amending measure — would be referred without delay to the Native Affairs Committee A Native Land P-aimg Bill would also be brought down He did not hold out very sanguine hopes that tho latter Bill would be passed this session, but'the Government would do its best.