TOWNSHIP TENURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14928, 28 February 1912, Page 5

TOWNSHIP TENURES.

A TE KUITI COMPLAINT.

EUROPEANS REFUSED FREEHOLD,

[from our OWN correspondent.]

T.b KtrtTi, Tuesday* The secretary of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr. Mostyn Jones) has forwarded the following letter to Sir Joseph Ward and Messrs. W. F. Massey and C. K. Wilson, M.P.'s, in connection with the township tenure in the King Country:—

"I am directed by my Chamber to bring under your notice the undesirable position in which the ratepayers of this town are paced. The tenure of town sections in really in all cases a leasehold one from the Maori Land Board. The law allow., he native owners (for whom tho Foard acts as trustee) to sell the freehold to the leaseholder whew the native baa iiufficient other lands to live on. Tha Maori Land Board, however, adopts tho policy that this freeholding of sections is an undesirable thing, and has refused applications desired by the. European and also by the native, the latter ' having other lands which he wishes to improves. ■■'■

"The town of Te Kuiti is progressing so fast that a water supply, sewerage, street formation, etc., have become urgent necessities. The Borough Council has, therefore, been obliged to raise a loan fop the purpose. ' The result ci the expenditure of these loan moneys will be that the native owner, who has done absolutely nothing to make the town, and who has paid no rates thereon, will reap a largo proportion of the benefit of this large expenditure. My Chamber > wishes ma forcibly to point out the 'injustice of the position, and to ask you for redress.

" Two examples of refusal by the Board are appended, and, no doubt, there are other cases, as many do not bring their applications before the Board, the president of which has publicly stated from Ins chair that he does, not think it desirable that the town should be made freehold. ■ I am directed to ; state that my Chamber is thoroughly in earnest over this matter, and intends to leave no stone untouched » towards achieving the desired result."

Of the two examples referred to in the letter, one is a section in which there are two native owners who are amply provided with land, apart from the section. The section was valued by the Government valuator at £150, of which the natives' interests were assessed at £40, and the lessee's at £110. The lessee agreed to buy from the natives their interest for £45.

The second is where one native owns i section, and has a farm on which he lives, and wants to develop. The Government valuation was £75, the native's interest being valued at .£25 and the lessee's at £50. The lessee agreed to buy from Che native at £32. ■ The Board refused to grant either applications.