THE MAORI RESERVE DIFFICULTY

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1730, 19 February 1874, Page 4

THE MAORI RESERVE DIFFICULTY

[to the editor.]

Sib— The striking variety of opinions and expedients which distract us as to the best mode of getting this Maori nightmare off our chests, will bo my excuse for offering a suggestion which seems to be free from those " clotted complications" we all so persistently swear at and endure. Stripped of irremediable matters, and assuming the consent of the Legislature, the whole question seems to resolve itself into three parts. 1. To provide for the Maoris the same net income which the Greymouth Reserve now provides for them. This would disembarrass the whole town of all Maori encumberances or claims, and leave us the opportunity of acquiring freeholds. 2. A fair and equitable ascertainment and disposal of all the rights and interests of whatever kind, as between the original lessees and those holding under them. This, -if attained, would solve all difficulties as to relative rights and proportionate interests.

3. So to accomplish the above as to ensure a moderate price for the freehold, by means of a machinery fairly controlable by law, and amenable to public opinion. If anyone reads thus far I would ask him to consider whether all this could not be accomplished by ourselves through our Borough Council. The net income derived from this revenue is, T understand, under L2OOO a year, to produce which would require a sum say of L 40,000 invested in Government debentures.

The Borough Council could easily obtain that amount on that security ; and the Borough Council, which represents all the citizens and which exercises in other directions larger powers, could properly, and I think efficiently, with the aid of professional help, investigate and decide on the particular circumstances of each case, assessing the money value of each and every interest (which for this purpose may bs called " encumbrance ") of whatever kind, with which each individual property might be affected. As the Borough Council would be acting in the public interest and without any view to profit, the total of these " encumbrances " would be the price at which the party entitled to purchase might buy the freehold ; and in order to prevent these totals being unreasonable, it should be compulsory that all valuations should be kept within such a limit that the entire sum, less expenses, to be realised by the Borouph Council from the whole of the properties, should not exceed the L40,0U0 they hod paid tho Maoris for it. It would be an essential feature of such a scheme that the party entitled to purchase should not be restricted as to time, . if he exercised his option of purchase immediately, so much of the loan could be paid off ; if he preferred to postpone his purchase, the rent of the premises would pay the interest on so much of the loan. To sum up. All property in the town would be. converted into freehold. The reserve is ample security for the loan, which would purchase it. The Borough Council, representing the whole of the citizens, would act as guardian of all interests concerned, assess separately the value of each interest, and thus arrive at the price which the party entitled to purchase should pay for the freehold. Neither price nor time could prove oppressive. Parliament would be approached with a scheme, devoid of complication, equitable in itself, and to be carried into effect by a public body, whose only object would be the general good. If these suggestions are worthy of notice, some one interested- will perhaps avail of them. I am, &c, Westland.