SETTLING NATIVE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13843, 1 September 1908, Page 5

SETTLING NATIVE LAND.

DEPARTMENT'S INTENTIONS.

STATEMENT BY THE' MINISTER.

fm" TKLKGRAPIf.— CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Monday. A Imputation consisting of members of the Auckland and East Coast railway deputation waited upon the Native Minister (the Hon. J. Carroll) this afternoon, for the purpose of representing the importance of, tho greatest possible expedition being observed in regard to the settlement of native lands in the North. There were present: Messrs. E. Harding, Jack, D. McKeimze, Andrew Bell, Joseph Carrol, and the. Hon. Captain Tucker. M.. Kidd, M.P., introduced the deputation, and there were also present : 'Messrs. Baume, Poole, Alison, Jennings, Ngata, Heke, and Paiata.

Mr. Harding said that the country was suffering very severely from the inability to bring the large unused areas of native lands into profitable cultivation. The question bad occupied the attention of the conference of settlers recently held at Whangarei, and it was there suggested that some modified system of the lands for settlement policy might be adopted in regard to the native lands. The proposal was that the lands should be thrown open for settlement without waiting foi the titles to be ascertained, and that the proceeds should be paid into a trust fund, and apportioned to those entitled to it after the titles had been ascertained. In the event of anything of this kind being done, it should apply to the laud already held under lease from the Maoris at an inadequate rental; such leases should be resumed and thrown upon the market, so as to enable the owners to receive a fair recompense.

The Minister spoke of the difficulties that surrounded all attempts to deal with the native land question. Since the Commission was appointed it had dealt with lands aggregating about 5,000,000 acres, and some 211,171 acres had been operated for the purposes of settlement. Since the present' policy was inaugurated, the total of the native lands leased and sold under various methods had numbered some 1,404,543 acres, the average size of the holdings being about 500 acres. If they could get a proper staff of surveyors they would be able next year to throw open about 1.500,000 acres of Maori lands. He intended to propose amendments in the law with the object of lessening. as far as possible the procedure in regard to appeals, but the important point to be remembered was that there must be no compulsion in the matter. They were going to pay, special attention to the North of Auckland, and in this connection he mentioned that one block of native land, the Otakanini Block, near Helensville, would be ..thrown open for lease on September 25. This block consisted of 7154 acres, and was situated about five miles to the west of Helensville. It would be offered for lease for 25 years, with a right of renewal for a further term of 25 years. In the case of a number of the sections, preference would be given in the first instance to applications from the Maori owners of the land.