OFFERED TO THE CROWN.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 842, 14 June 1910, Page 6

OFFERED TO THE CROWN.

I LARGE NATIVE LAND AREAS. THE EFFECT .MPOKTANT. • Speaking to a Dominion reporter yesterday, the Hon. J. Carroll (Minister for Native Affairs) stated that the Natives who attended tho big gathering at Waahi last'week, like those in other parts of the Dominion, showed a strong desire to sell or lease their lands or put them to use themselves. During his visit to the conference he secured the confirmation of the right to dispose of 180,000 acres of Native land, which would be opened right away, mostly for settlement by Europeans. Altogether, 600,000 acres of Native lands had been scheduled for disposal in various ways, and the area to which he had just alluded formed the first instalment. This land was of the general character of remaining waste lands, and was not included among the lands in various districts which the Crown was now negotiating to purchase. "In connection with this matter," continued Mr. Carroll, "I promised that the Government would give every assistance in having the land sub-divided. By the Government becoming responsible in regard to the surveys, it will ensure more dispatch than could otherwise be the case under the old order of things. Previously -surveyors had to rely on the owners for payment. That was all right in cases where the owners were in a position to defray the cost, but in the general run of cases they were not, and naturally the process was a slow one. In somo cases the Europeans making the purchase or lease of Native lands made themselves responsible for the payment of the surveying, but they wero not all in that position, and dealings as a rule were followed by a tremendous aftermath of detail work to carry the title to registrable perfection. 'Under tho new system things will work out very smoothly, for the Government guarantees the survey fees which are made a first charge against the land." During the course of further remarks, Mr. Carroll stated that Tie had just received advice from the Hon. A. Ngata to the effect that ho had completed arrangements for the purchase by the Crown of 40,000 acres of Native land in tho Urewera district. Mr. Wilson, of the Land and Survey Department, had, lie continued, just been instructed to explore and value the Native lands recently placed under offer to the Crown by the Natives at Opotiki. Mr. Carroll also mentioned that all the blocks dealt with by the Appellate Court at Te Araroa, around the East Cape, were being rushed by prospective lessees. Section 209 of the new Act stood in the way of indiscriminate leasing, for the titles required surveys which were now being arranged.

SPEECH BY MR. KAIHAU. TIME FOR "TAIHOA"' POLICY PAST. (By TelceraDh—Press Association.! ." Auckland, June 13. Tho Native Conference at Waahi was resumed to-day when Mr. Henare Kailiau, M.P., addressed those present. The partition of their lands, said Mr. Kaihau, liad been agreed upon among themselves and confirmed as between Mahuta and the Nativo Minister (the Hon. James Carroll). Of the GOO.OOO acres under consideration it had been decided to sell 150,000 acres, to leave a similar amount to rcservo for their own occupation, and to sell for the purpose known as the liana of Mahuta the remainder, some 300,000 acres. The time for a "taihoa" policy was past. Land settlement could not longer be staved off. Ho strongly advised tho Natives to prove their bona -fides by occupying the portions set apart for farms and to set to work to cultivate them in a scientific and up-to-date manner. With regard to the portion to be leased, their hands were tied until tho Government gave them information as to the value at which the land had been assessed. Tho Natives were as much alivo to tho current value of land as were the paUeha, and tho difference of a shilling or two on nearly 400,000 acres meant a considerable sum. The valuation might or might not be satisfactory to the Native owners. If it were, well and good; but if not it should be thrown open for public selection, or let or sold to the highest-bidder. Provisions had now been made for survey, reading, etc., and completing would be considerably accelerated if tho management were vested in the hands of the local committee, leaving to the land boards only the legalisation of tho various transactions. Leaving these matters to tho land boards simply meant banging them up for another 10 years and perpetuating that policy of "taihoa" with which both Natives and Europeans had been nauseated ever 6ince deals in Native lands had been commenced. It was well known to them all that tho block, some 1300 acres in extent now known as the Hopuhopu Mission Station, was one of great historic and tribal interest.. That land should be handed over to the Natives at once. Tho speaker strongly urged the Natives to forget the last link in the chain of Native councils by-appointing one for the Waikato district. He concluded by exhorting his audience to decide ciuickly on tho various matters placed before them and adjured them for the sake of their race to be temperate, obedient, and loyal.