GREYMOUTH NATIVE LEASES

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 August 1912, Page 8

GREYMOUTH NATIVE LEASES

MEETING OF LESSEES

A meeting of the lessees and sublessees of the Native reserves in the town of Greymouth was held in the Borough Council Chambers last evening. Mr T. E. Coates occupied the chair and the following were also present: —Messrs I'. Campbell, Dittos, . Pepper, E. Sheedy, J. Truscott, P. -Grogan, W. R. Kettle, J. E. Williams, J. McLean, F. Parkinson and Skoglund. The Chairman explained the meeting was called to ascertain if the leaseholders desired to renew the agitation commenced some time ago. Their efforts in the past for improved conditions had not been altogether without result. The arbitration fees had been reduced and some leases renewed had been obtained on a five per cent unimproved basis. The tenure, however, still stood at twentyone years and it was for the meeting to decide whether they would again start with the freehold or agitate for a longer lease as their objective. Every year they delayed made it more difficult to obtain redress. There had in the interim been a change of Government, some of the members of which had previously expressed their sympathy with the lessees of the Native Reserves in Greymouth. It was for the meeting to decide what action they would now take. Mr Kettle said he thought they wore all unanimous that the matter should be again taken up. The speaker read a telegram ,in reply, from Sir Arthur Guinness, which was as follows;—“Recommend meeting to pass resolution urging Government to pass legislation this session granting freehold to tenants or extend term of lease.”

Mr Kettle thought they should approach the Government for a longer lease. The time was opportune and they should endeavour to have a 66 years’ tenure instead of 21 years as at present. Mr Grogan advocated further striving for the freehold.

Mr Campbell said there was no doubt that they had achieved some little benefits’ from their agitations in the past. They had petitioned Parliament for the freehold; the petition, however, had been “talked out” in the House, and it somehow or other had not had a fair trial. He thought they should continue to agitate for the freehold, and moved that this meeting respectfully wire the member for the District asking him to interview the Premier and ascertain if the Cabinet would allow the petition to be placed on the order paper, and that their prayer for the freehold be again brought before Parliament; also that the text of the wire sent to Sir Arthur Guinness he telegraphed to the Premier. Until they were denied all hope of legislation for the freehold, and got a fair test of the feeling of the House on the question, they should not alter their first quest. If Mr Masesy refused to accept the petition for the freehold it would then be time to take up the question of a longer lease. So far as the petition went in the House it had been very well received. Messrs Massey, Allen and Herries, when they visited the Coast, had promised them support, and it was desirable now to test their expressed sympathy with the lessees now that they had since attained Cabinet rank. Mr Kettle seconded the motion. If they could not get the freehold the next best thing to do would be to go in for a longer lease,

Mr Gittos suggested that an alternative proposal of 66 years’ lease be added to the motion.

The Chairman thought that the motion should stand as moved without the suggested addition. He then read the report of the last deputation to Wellington, which, he said, might he considered ancient history, but his object in quoting it was to show that the position of the sublessees was provided for and that what had been intended as a benefit the whole would have been a benefit to a part. He mentioned this in face of the statement that had been recently made at the Borough Council table. In reply to a question, the Chairman said the unimproved value of the reserves was £IIO,OOO at the time the present movement was commenced, but the values ha.! gone up since then, Mr Pepper supported the motion. He thought it inadvisable to adopt a proviso for. the leasehold at present. He said the Native land question was one that was keenly felt in other towns, particularly in the North Island, instancing one town, "'here it was estimated the population would be increased fifty per cent if relief were granted. Mr Sheedy supported the motion, although he had his doubts as to the ultima,(e results. In a talk he had with the leading Maoris they expressed themselves as being emphatically against selling the reserves, but they might grant a longer tenure. The motion was put and carried unanimously. Mr Campbell moved and Mr McLean secp.pdcrl, that on replies being received from Wellington, the Chairman be instructed to call another meeting. shanks to the chair terminated the proceedings.