Native Lands Commission.

Hastings Standard, Volume XI, Issue 5567, 27 July 1907, Page 2

Native Lands Commission.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION, Wellington, July 26. Reports by the Native Lands Commission were laid on the table of the House of Representatives to-day. The following recommendations are contained in the general report dealing with the interim reports:— (A) GENERAL. 1. That the purchase of native lands by the Crown under the present system be discontinued. 2. That alienation by direct negotiation between owners and private individuals be prohibited (in each cas. 1 provision to be made for dealings already pending). 3. Further alienations only,through the board as agent for owners, or, in the case of lands vested in it, as registered owner of such lands. 4. Maori occupation and farming powers to be given to boards to regu - 1 ate the use of these areas. 5. Boards to have special powers as to timber, flax, minerals, etc. 6. Boards may offer lands after rough survey indicating allotment. Arterial roads may be laid out and formed where absolutely necessary before selection. Cost of roading and survey to be loaded on section. 7. Boards to be constituted as at present. Each board to to have a competent accountant as clerk and re-

ceiver. 8. Governor in Council may except lands trom operation of the above proposals on condition that any so excepted be sold or leased by auction. Q. Jurisdiction of the Native Land Court limited as to lands administered by boards in the matter of partitions, but not so in regard to succession, testamentary, disposition, ascertainment of owners or beneficiaries and adjustment of disputed tribal boundaries. Court may partition on application of board. 10. The law requires amendment to permit of exchanges on a large scale so as to secure consolidation of individual and family holdings.

(B) SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS. Ihe following ate areas so far investigated and reported on by the commission : Hawke's Bay.—For Maori occupation and farming. 75.003 acres ; for leasing, 14.827 acres; for sale 2300 acres. Wanganui. For Maoris, 49,964 acres; for leasing, 92,443 acres.

King Country.—For Maoris, 92,148 acres; for leasing, 163,769 acres; for sale, 34.522 acres. Total, 526,977 a^ret. Still to be dealt with. —Wanganui, 90,485 acres; King Country, 559290 acres. The commissioners say that if the Maori is to become an industrious citizen, steps will have to be taken to educate him differently. They say that the Arawas and Ngapuhis, and the leading men of Poverty Bay and the East Coast have pressed the commission to visit them, and the Maoris in the North Island generally are anxious that the commissioners should hold detailed inquiry into their lands.