AN OBJECTIONABLE TRANSACTION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2807, 27 June 1916, Page 6

AN OBJECTIONABLE TRANSACTION

Sir,—l hero has appealed in the Press lately an item, evidently supplied bv the Government authorities, that at the' first blush is quite tickling to the mental palate, but on ah analysis pictures one or two-very vivid and objectionable features. Tho paragraph referred to proudly declaims, that the Government lias purchased 226fc acres, part of the Waikopiro Block, the intention being to ottor it for tee use of returned soldiers At the expiry of the present lease. Unintentionally, no doubt, the fact that the land was purchased from a Native is not mentioned, but it is material. Taking the (first aspect of the case, it should be noted that tinder the Native Land Act, 1909, before the Maori Laud Board .approves of an alienation it must be satisfied, inter alia: (1) That tho alienation is not contrary to tho equity or good faith, or to the interests of, tho Native alienating; and (2) that so Native will, by reason of the alienation, become landless within the meaning of the Act. This very .necessary restriction equally applies to the private purchaser and to the Crown. Now t on two occasions an application has been made to the President of the Ikaroa Maori Land, Board to confirm a transfer of this particular 22GJi acres, part of the Waikopiro Block, at a price based on tho Government valuation of the moment, not of an obsolete one, and on both occasions the application was. refused on the grounds that it was not in the interest of the Native alienating, because, if granted, the owner would become landless within the meaning of the Act. Yet with this knowledge before it, with cognisance of every detail, the Native Land Purchase Board not only deliberately and without proper inquiry, and at their own valuation, purchased this :22GJ acres from the Native owner, but at the same time acquired from him two smaller interests in tho Porangahau and Mangaorapa Blocks. Further comnient is unnecessary, beyond a desire to hear tho Judge's opinion' (the Judge who refused to grant confirmation of the alienation) of the Land Purchase Board; perhaps it would be similar to that of those acquainted with the casequite unprintable. No matter, the late owner.does not walk.now; he will career through a lotus-eating life for a brief period on inflated' tires, and then, owing to having become landless at the hands of a beneficent Government Department, well—tempus omnia revelat. And now the second phase. We are told that the intention of tho Government is, on. the expiration of the present lease, to offer the laud for tho use of returned soldiers. Is this tragedy or comedy? The land in question is an isolated area, rent by a precipitous ravine, two thousand and fifty feet above sea level, no approach by road, and surrounded by private properties !

What have the soldiers done to deserve this? No doubt the wisdom and the perspicacity of the Native Land Purchase Board are, and they only, capable of enlightening us. But it was ever thus in that illustrious Department of State entitled the Native Department. Crass incompetence and a very shadowy conception of the'ethics of justice when dealing with the very peoplo they were, as a Department, set up to protect, has been their special privilege and characteristic. —I am, etc., .* A. L. D. FRASER. Hastings, June 21, 11)16.