NATIVE LAWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 176, 27 July 1907, Page 5

NATIVE LAWS.

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS

Xpbess association.]

WELLINGTON, July 26. The Native Land Commissioners' reports were laid on the table of the House to-day. i In addition .to the detailed reports 'on lands in the Wanganui and King Country districts, there is a general one,'dealing with the interim reports as a whole, which contains the following recommendations: — 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 case provit vision to be made for dealings already pending) ; (3) further alienations only through the Board as agent for the owners, or in case of lands vested in it as" the registered owner of such lands; (4) Maori settlement: as to lands set apart for Maori occupation and farming, powers to bo given to the Board to regulate the use of these areas; (5) the Boards to have special powers as to timber, flax, minerals, etc. j,(°) the Board may offer lands after a rough 'survey indicating allotment f arterial roads may be laid out and formed where absolutely necessary before selection, the cost of roading and survey to be loaded on the section; (7) ■the Boards to be constituted as at present, but we think that the, presidents should be drawn from men experienced in the cutting-up and letting of lands, and should be Government officers, paid by the Government, travelling allowances to bo a charge on the revenue from the land, each Board to have, a competent accountant as clerk and receiver; (8) the Goyernor-in-Council may except lands from the operation of the above proposals, on condition that land so excepted shall be sold or leased at auction—exception may be made in favour of an owner who is con-, sidered able to manage his own affairs; (9) the jurisdiction put into the hands of the Land Court is limited as to.land -administered by the Board in the matter of partitions, but not in regard to succession, testamentary disposition, ascertainment of owners or beneficiaries and adjustment of disputed tribal^boundaries; the Court may partition on the application of the Board; (10) the law requires amendment to permit of exchanges on a large scale, so as to secure the consolidation of individual and family holdings. <v B. Specific Recommendations :— These are concerned with individual blocks. Stress is laid on the "necessity of expedition in surveys of native lands, which is commended to the earnest attention of the Government and Parliament. / ';.[' / . ; Following is the area so far mvesti-' gated and reported on by the Commis-; sion:—Hawke's Bay: For Maori oceu-;: patibh and farming, 75,003 acres^forl leasing, 14,827; for sale, 2,300. Wan+ gainui ■': For Maoris, 49,964; ror leas-!; ins, 92,443. King Country: For Maoris. 92,148; for leasing 163,769 jj for sale, 34,522. Total, 526,977,. J Still to be dealt with : Wanganuij; 90,485; King Country, 559,290. . , -j| The Commissioners say that it tn€| Maori is to become an industrious citi* zen, steps will have to be taken to edu?r cate him differently. They consider that two things are necessary : (1) .-Prw mary education should have an agricultural bias; (2) guidance and jeaderr ship should be provided by the State— it is required in the primary schools, and" should be extended to secondary, which persist; in, maintaining the ordinary grammar school course, not adapted, to the present needs of the Maori The Commissioners also allude to the evils of alcoholism and tohungaism, which require combating. In conclusion, they say that the A^-awas, Ngapuhis and ,the leading men of Poverty Bay and the East Coast have pressed the Commission to visit them, and the natives in the North Island generally are anxious that the Commissioners should hold a detailed inquiry into their lands. The Commissioners are not yet in a position to make definite recommendations as to rating, taxation and reforms in Native Land Court procedure and administration.