NATIVE LANDS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 267, 12 November 1909, Page 2

NATIVE LANDS.

HOW THE GOVERNMENT WILL DEAL WITH THEM. Referring in the Budget to native lands, Sir Joseph Ward said:— The proposals of the Government with regard to the settlement of native lands will he put before you in a measure dealing specially with that, important subject. The Bill is in part a consolidation and an" amendment of the existing law, so as to conform the existing conditions, to the present needs of the native race, and to the demands of the Dominion as a whole. The consolidation affects 71 ! statutes (public, private and local) dating back to the year 1881. Thee© do not contain the whole of the law relating to native lands. The process, of ascertaining native titles and partitioning the same into convenient areas will be greatly improved. It is found that the process has been greatly delayed in the past because surveys have ,not kept" pace with jfche operations of the Native Land Court. It is intended that the Government shall undertake all future, surveys, charging the cost to the native lands affected. The duty will.be cast on the chief surveyor 'df- completing all surveys required by the Native Land Court or Maori Land Board. Proper road lines will be laid off wherever necessary before partition. ■ Exchanges "jof interests in native lands for other. lands or for European.,or Grown lands will be greatly facilitated and unhampered except by a condition that the power be not abused and sales effected under the guise- of • exchanges. , An important feature of the Bill is a proposal to consolidate the scattered* interests of individual owners or groups of owners. The Court will be empowered to formulate schemes for the purpose, which, after approval by the Governor-in-Council, will operate by way of exchange or otherwise as may be necessary. The question of marriage of natives, adoptions, by them, and powerof testamentary disposition will receive careful consideration when dealing with the alienation and settlement of native lands. The Government realise the importance of the question to the Dominion, ■ ancj more, pa^rtKpl'arly . t<v the Iforth Islan<j»^ Havihgimade provisions 'relating to the ■ascertainment of title effective, the provisions dealing witibt settlement have been . extended, to meet present requirements. While the interests of Maori owners, it is proposed to purchase from the natives ac large an area as possible. <To avoid, the difficulties of the past the purchases will as a rule be negotiated w|th the* owners assembled in meeting duly convened, and the tconsent; ior'/av majority will conclude;, the purchase,.subject in certain Cases to'the[partition 6f the" interests of dissentients. The system to be..., _ established, it is confidently hopedy will en able_ the Government to , protect a proportion of the proceeds; t of such sales from the extravagance; of native vendors. Lands now vested in Maori Land Boards and those about to be vested in accordance with the; recommendation of the Native Land i Commission will be administered prac- ! tically under the existing system.' { Ample provision will be made to en- \ abje .these bba^s to.op^,laii4s vest^di : in them for settlement^ siich advances'

as may he made being secured on the lands or the revenue therefrom.

The system of incorporating owners of native lands for the purpose of alienating or farming their lands will be continued and somewhat extended. For purposes of alienating all' existing restrictions and prohibition against alienation will be,; removed. A native who is the sole -owner of a defined piece of land may, ?by application to the Native Appellate Court, ! convert his land into freehold European land. A Maori is denned as a pure Maori, and includes a half-caste and persons intermediate in blood beI tween pure Maoris and half-castes. Persons intermediate in blood between half-castes and and Europeans are regarded for all purposes as Europeans. Where land is owned by not more than ten owners they may sell, lease, or mortgage, but in the last-named case only to a State lending department or to a person authorised by the Governor-in-Council. Where there are more than ten owners direct alienation will be permitted by a Board if satisfied {hat the signatures can be obtained with little expense. In other cases alienation is to be effected by^ resolution) of the owners assembled in meeting, and. adaptation of the old-time runanga system of the Maoris. All "alienations will be .subject to confirmation by the Boards in the North Island and by xne Court in the South Island. As it is not j proposed that- the Natir© Land Bill, if passed, should come in J& operation until the end of March r-:xt, you will be asked to make provi ion for the carpdng-on of purchases and develop- | meitt of lands vested in Maori Land ! Boards up to tKe end of the financial year.