MAORI LAND CLAIMS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21582, 8 December 1944, Page 6

MAORI LAND CLAIMS

SETTLEMENT POLICY PROVISION IN BILLS (P.R.) WELLINGTON. Dec. G. Two measures designed to settle the long-standing Maori claims in respect to the confiscated Taranaki lands and South Island land purchases were introduced in the House of Representatives last night when the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, expressed the hope that they were really final. The Native Minister, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, explained that the Taranaki Land Claims Bill had been submitted to the native people concerned and had met with their approval. The settlement followed the lines of the recommendations of the Royal Commission of which the lato Mr. Justice Sim was president and provided that the sum of £SOOO which had been placed on the estimates annually would be made a statutory payment and that £3OO would be paid in respect of the Parihnka Pa claim. Mr. Holland asked bow many years the payment of £SOOO would be continued. The Minister replied that it would be in perpetuity. He added that the Ngaitahu Claim Settlement Bill authorised the payment of £300,000 in full settlement, the amount to be paid in 30 annual instalments of £IO.OOO. As in the case of the. Taranaki payment-;, the money would be* handled by the Maori Iri)ot boards. The bills were read a second time' formally ard referred to the Native Affairs Committee,.