BAD LEASES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 268, 6 August 1920, Page 10

BAD LEASES

' OHOTU BLOCK SETTLERS ENTITLED TO RELIEF Grievances of lessees who have taken up land in, the Ohotu and other blocks, which comprise some hundred thousand acres of land in the basin of the Wanganui River from Raetihi to Pipiriki, were laid k'forc the Prime Minister (Hr. Masssy), the Minister of' Native Affairs* (Sir William .Ilerries), and the Minister of Lands (Mr. D. H. Guthrie) by a representative body of the settlers yostorday. The deputation was supported by Messrs. It. W. Smith, W. T. Jennings, F. P. Hookly, W. D. Powdrell, and W. S. Glenn, the members of the House representing the area of land affected. These lands were leased some thirteen years ago by the Aotea Maori Land Board. liie land is of gocd quality, but (.-wing to the bad leases given the Gott.'ers have been unable to make the best use of the land. In tho leasos as signed by all tho tenants there was ri provision "protecting the improvements made daring a term of the lease, and as tiiere was a right of renewal for a Gosond tern of 21 years at valuation, tihe protection of the improvements is a matter of the gravest importance to the settlers. This provision to conserve to the tenant his improvenienis was accepted by the ■ tenants in good faith, and was no doubt given by the Maori Land -Board in good faith, bin: it was discovered at soma time afterwards that the Aotea Board had no legal authority to give a lease containing such a clause, biliiculties lrave cropped up in connection witlli financo as a. result. There have been othor difficulties also with regard to the wading of tho block., The settlers assumed when they went into the block thai! they, would bo in the same position as Crown tenants, and that they would get the usual assistance iu the making of their roads. They discovered too law that they were responsible for the complete roading of tho block, and only with difficulty, the/ said, had they been at lengthy able to persuade'the Aotea Board to give lliem a subsidy for main roads in the 'block. Tho deputation asked for relief; They asked either that some legislation be passed to validate the clause which had been inserted in llie leases by tho Aotea Board, or that they be allowed to acquire tho freehold of the land. . The speakol'U for the deputation made it quite clear that Miey wished no injustice to tho Native owners, but that they were pro; pared to pay to them, the full value of the Natives interes-l in the land. A suggestion made was that a considerable portion of the moneys from the sale should bo held in trust for the natives. ' Mr. Mnssoy said iliiat he had known i something of the case as presented since 1912, when lie had first heard of it, and he remembered that then lie had considered that the nettlers had a fair claim t.« tho favourable consideration of tho Governm'enf. Their difficulties could not have been lessened by the lapse of time. But in tlvrse years many things had happened, and tho Government had : had to give all its attention to > other more urgent matters. But the claim of tiie Uliotu settlers still, stood, and he thought something would have to bo done to put tlieni right. There was no doubt that they had a serious grievance in connection with the improvements clause. The intention cf the clause was clear, and the principle must stand that the improvements belonged to the man who made theni. The remedy seemed to be Vo allow the tenants to acquire the freehold title. lie could' not promise that legislation would be brought down this session, but he understood the grievance of t'ho' settlers, and tho Government would do its best to put it right. (Applause.) Sir William Ilerries said that the Act of 1913 had been put through in order i)o give relief— lo enable tho freehold of the land to be purchased. Unfortunately it had not been possible lo .Ascertain whether the Natives were willing to sell. If they were willing to sell there wnis no reason why tlio purchase of the land should not be commenced at once. Ho warned. the settlers, however, that if they purchased tho • land the settlers .would have to find the cash at once, as tho Government had to pay cash to" tho Natives. Tho Government liad only a limited amount of money for the purchase of Native lands, and a good deal of Native land had been purchased ipr returned soldiers. This was one of the reasons why the purchase of the Oliov.u Block had not been pushed. His im. pression also was that the'improvements clause had bwn fixed up by the 191J Act. The iatentiai of the Government had certainly been vo. validate the improvements clause in the lease, lie was not yet sure that this had not be?n done, and he would look the matter up. If a further.validating clause should be required, and such a clause would do hurt to the Natives, he would see that one was put in the Washing-Up Bill. (Applause.) , , , . Mr. Guthrie said that he had been acquainted with this Ohoi'u difficulty hinco the block was first settled* Hu knew, mauv of his personal friend? had taken up land in the block under the impression that their improvements would be pro'locted, and he knew; also that if these people h'ad understood that their improvements would not bo projected they would not have entered into possession •){ the tauda. The deputation expressed complete satisfaction with the assurancos given by the Ministers.'