MAORI CREDIT RESTRICTION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1075, 17 August 1869, Page 3

MAORI CREDIT RESTRICTION.

The following is the text of the Maori Restriction Bill, introduced by Mr, Richmond, and referred to by our Wellington correspondent:— A Bill intituled m Act to prevent the Impoverishment of the Maoris. Whereas on account of the improvident habits of the Aboriginal natives of NewZealand considerable numbers of them have incurred debts and have rendered themselves liable thereby to judgment and execution from the courts of the colony and they have no means whereby to discharge such debts and satisfy: suchjudg« merits except by sale or mortgage of their real estate. And whereas it is matter of public concern that the aboriginal natives should not be allowed so far to divest themselves of their, lands as to have insufficient left for the maintenance of them* selves and their, successors and it is there* fore expedient to^make such provision as shall prevent them from incurring debts which they cannot discharge without alienating their lands. Be it thebefobe enacted by the General Assembly of New Zealand m Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same as follows — 1. The Short Title of this Act shall be " The Maori Credit Restriction Act 1869." 2. No person shall recover in any action or other proceeding against an Aboriginal Native of New Zealand for or on account of the following things or some or one of them. Goods sold and delivered Money lent "Work and labor done Use and hire of chattels or beasts Work and labour done and materials for same provided Use and occupation of land house, or apartments Board and lodging Feeding and taking care of horses sheep or cattle .""'.. Carriage of goods and chattels where the action or other proceeding is for any sum above live pounds but all suoh actions or other proceedings shall.be dismissed with costs. 3. No deed bill of exchange promissory note confession of judgment warrant; o£ attorney to confess judgment bond obliga- ... tion mortgage or other security whereof me . consideration or value or any part thereof shall be any of the before-mentioned things or money due and owing or pur- : ported to be due and owing in respect or on * account of the abo.ve-mentioiied things or > any of them made, ; accepted , \e2cgptit^i .ge^ ./ indbrseS by any Aboriginal Native shall: . be valid or of any force at law or in equity

as »gajn«b. juoh, Native \., Provided always that this provision shall not. apply to any instrument or mortgage . made; and cxc- ;• cuted under and, in pursuance of the tiiir^-tnirdtihirtyrfourth and thirty-fifth, and thirty-sixth clauses of " The Native Lands Act 1867." 4so cause of action shall be divided nor shall any part thereof be abandoned io as to exoludeit from the operation of thfcAcfci