THE MAORI LAND BILL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14202, 26 October 1906, Page 4

THE MAORI LAND BILL.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS. - [IIIOH OUE C'OKRiiSI'ONDXNT.] . WELLINGTON, October 23. . The. Maori Land. Act Amendment Bill has been dealt with by the Native Affairs Committee. The amendments make it quite clear that no. person shall acquire by lease any Native land, the unimproved value of which, together with that land he already holds under 1 any tenure, exceeds £SOOO on the Government valuation. A transferee or sub-lessee of Native land is compelled to make a statutory declaration, as in the case of the original Jesses,, before the Board can approve- the transfer or sub-lease. 1 There, is ’a proviso giving the Board the discretion, in cases of lands of poor quality or so situated that a strict adhesion to the £SOOO limit will, prevent the advantageous leasing of such lands, to increase the limit by a further £IOOO of. unimproved value. Three new clauses of some importance are introduced: —(1) As to lands owned by not more than _ two owners. These may be dealt with if the title is a separate area, ■ and was ascertained by partition or otherwise ■prior to January 1, 1901. (2) As to lands which Natives obtain by lease or purchase from a Crown Land Board, the necessity for confirmation is removed in the disposition of such lands, except that the instruments still require to be in Maori, and certified. (3) To facilitate conveyancing,, a solicitor not concerned inva transaction is made a competent witness to instruments under the Maori Land Administration Acts. t ,