NATIVE LANDS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 87, 12 April 1912, Page 7

NATIVE LANDS.

WEST COAST LEASES. Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., of, Wellington, and Mr. W. Kerr, S.M., of Wanganui, are gazetted commissioners to enquire into matters connected with tho West Coast Settlement Reserves Leases. The matters to bo enquired into are :■ — (1) On. what trms and conditions the said lessees, or any of thorn, should bo permitted to surrender their present leases and obtain new leases in lieu thereof, under section 8 of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1892? (2) Whether any of the said lessees have been misled by any net of the Public Trustee or any other officer of the Public Trust Department, or the form of the .lease* iifliiod, or the regulations mad© under tho West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1881, or its amendments, into believing that there was no limit to tho amount of the compensation to which they were, entitled under their leases, and in consequence of such belief made on their leaseholds or purchased ivom. other lessees improvements in excess of £S per acre? (3) What areas of land now leased under the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1881, and its amendments, may hereafter bo required by the Native owuers for their use and occupation; and, having regard to their particular interests therein and their individual titness for profitably using such lands, which of tho said leases, if any, should be allowed to remain under the present tenure* in order that such Native owners may, on tho expiration joi' such leases, compete for the possession of the lands held under them? (4) What provision &hould be- mad© to enable s-uch Native owners to get financial assistance from tho Government to enable them to work their farms, should any of them becomS tenants of such leaseholds? Dr. M'Arthur will be chairman of th« commission.