THE MAORI LAND QUESTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13307, 13 October 1906, Page 6

THE MAORI LAND QUESTION

AMENDMENTS OF LAST YEAR'S ACT. I * .... , k , f * '•*. , . ■ ' LIMITATION OF ALLOTMENTS. . NOXIOUS WEEDS. [BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday. The Maori Lands Settlement Act Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's message as the House was on the point of rising last night, and was circulated to-day. The Bill contains a number of amendments of the existing Act. .The number of members of each Maori Land Board is increased from three to four. The quorum at all meetings of the board shall, be , three members, of whom at least one shall be a Maori member. Section 8 of last year's Act* which prescribed the powers of ti.e Native Minister in regard to the vesting of native lands in the boards for the purposes of settlement, has been amended by making it applicable to all Maori lands wherever situated, instead of applying only to the Tairawhiti (East Coast) and Tokerau (North of Auckland) Maori land districts. This power applies to all native lands which in the opinion of the Minister are not required or are not suitable for occupation by native owners. The provisions of last year's Act in regard to the classification of surplus lands (after the making of the necessary reservations for the requirements of native owners) remain unaltered, with the exception of the definition of fourth class land. The respective classifications under the new Bill are as follows:—First-class, comprising agricultural land; se" m !d class, comprising mixed agricultural and pastoral land third class, comprising pastoral land that can be profitably worked in areas of five thousand acres or less; and fourth class, land that cannot be profitably worked in areas of five thousand acres or less, instead of " fifteen thousand acres or less" as provided in the .enactment of last year. Paragraph (e) of section 8 of last year's Act, dealing with the subdivision of lands into allotments, is repealed, and instead of a limitation of area being fixed for allotments in regard to the respective' classes, it is provided that they shall not exceed an unimproved value of £5000 on the Government valuation. The term of the leases is extended from 50 to 66 years, thus bringing the measure into consonance with the Government's proposals in regard to Crown lands. ■ Section 7 provides inat, notwithstanding any prohibition, restriction, condition, or limitation regarding the disrcsal of lands owned by Maoris (other than papatu land), such land may bo disposed of by way of lease, subject to the provisions of this Act. ■ Section 16 of last year's Act, relating to the terms under''which leases may be approved by the hoard, is. repealed and the following provisions are now made: —(1) That the lease is for the benefit of the Maori lessors;. (2) that each Maori alienating has a papakainga, or ' •sufficient other land for the purposes of a papakainga, or (With the rent payable under such lease) an income sufficient for his support; (3) that it takes effect in possession and not in 'reversion ; (4) that it was not signed by the lessors in consideration of any sum of money paid to them by way of premium or foregift, provided that the amount paid by the. lessee for improvements on the land is not deemed 1 a premium or foregift; (5) that the rent is not less than 5 per centum on the amount of the Government, valuation of the land; (6) by statutory declaration of the lessee that he is acquiring the land for himself and not for any other person, and that he is not- the owner, tenant, or occupier ot any land the unimproved value of which, toi gether with that of-the land proposed to be j 'leased, is more than £5000. The board is 1 'given' povfet at its discretion to refuse to ] approve the granting or transfer of any I lease. In such case the persons interested •are to have the power of appeal to the Native Appellate Court, whose decision shall be final. The Native Minister is given power to take control of any land owned by Maoris which, in . the Minister's opinion, has not . been properly cleared of noxious weeds, and 1 such lands shall be deemed to be " lands not required or not suitable for occupation by the Maori owners." Section Id provides that any Maori land or other land owned bv Maoris which, in the opinion of the Native Minister," is not properly occupied by the Maori owners, but ' is suitable for Maori settlement, may be dealt with under the provisions of the Bill, but in respect to such land the leases shall, be made only to Maoris, and no such land shall be sub-let or assigned to other than a Maori without the consent of the board and the Minister. Clause 14 gives power to determine interests in lands leased" under last year's ' Act. when neces'sarv for the purposes of facilitating settlement. The, Bill stands referred to the Native Affairs Committee, which will meet on Tuesday next to consider it. I understand that (lie Native Minister intends to mnke : an effort J.o pass the Bill this session, but it is probable that it will be amended in certain respects. ================