The Daily Telegraph. WEDNESDAY AUGUST 15, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3770, 15 August 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. WEDNESDAY AUGUST 15, 1883.

There are tAvo Native Land Act Amendment Bills noAV before the House, Sir George Grey's and the Hon. Mr Bryce's, both having the samo object, namely, tlie suppression of jobbery in native lands. The Christchurch Press "compares the tAvo, and saysSir George Grey's Bill is characteristically vague and futile. It feels about helplessly foAi method of doing Avhat is desired; but only Avith the most incomplete results. _ It provides that no restriction ou the alienability of Native lands shall be extinguished until after notice has been given by the Governor; and that no one shall deal in Native land before a title has been obtained, or procure an extension or rcneAval of existing leases, before tho expiration of the existing term. The breach of these provisions is made a misdemeanour punishable by fine or imprisonment. That is all. It avill be seen at a glance that such a IaAV Avould be a dead letter from the outset, for the obvious reason that the only check it places, or purports to place, on land jobbing, is tlie bare risk of somebody prosecuting the land jobbers and being able to prove the most intangible of all offences. Mr Bry ;e's Bill is a totally different kind of measure. It is one of the most trenchant pieces of legislation we have met Avith for a long time. It begins by absolutely forbidding any counsel, solicitor, agent, or other representative, to be employed in the Native Land Court. This alone strikes at the very root of the evil, because half the jobbery in Native lands arises from the lucrative nature of the intei-minablo "cases" that are conducted by Pakeha-Maori m the Court. Next, it empowers the Court to ascertain and determine the OAvncrship of Native land "without rcferoncc to legal formalities," a provision which completes the demolition of Native land litigation, and removes one of the most potent causes of fraud and rascality. Then it comes to the method contemplated in a hazy Avay by Sir George Grey. It forbids anyone to negotiate for the purchase of Native land until after a day to be fixed by proclamation, such day to be Avithin six months after tho

issue of tho certificate of title, and not less than thirty days after tho proclamation. Any person who shall negotiate illegally is to be liable to a fine of £500, recoverable summarily, and all contracts are to bo void. The Frauds Commissioners are entrusted Avith the duty of carrying out the IaAV in this respect. Noav comes.the kernel of the Bill. None of tho foregoing provisions aro to apply to tho CroAvn or to Government officers. This practically gives the CroAvn tho right of pre-emption over Native lands ; or rather, it gives the Crown the poAver of deciding Avhich Native lands shall be open for private purchase after the issue of the certificate of title, and AA'hich shall not, the Crown, meanwhile, haA'ing unlimited authority to acquire Native lands. Finally, tho Bill provides that all funds accruing under the Maori Real Estate Management Act shall pass through tho hands of the Public Trustee alone AVc have here a Bill which not only deals fundamentally with the matter with which it professes to deal, but furnishes the most effective means for ensuring the duo execution of its provisions. If this Bill becomes law it will scarcely be possible for Native land jobbery to exist any longer. It will effect an instant rcA'olution in the AA'hole condition and circumstances of the trade in Native lands, and Avill most assuredly prove a great protection to tho Natives. It Avill, moreover, put an end, once for all, to such schemes of land monopoly in the North Island as that Avhich avo recently saw projected in the Now i Zealand Native Land Settlement Company EmpoAveriug Bill.