ORAKEI LANDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 18

ORAKEI LANDS

CROWN INTERESTS DEFINITION SOUGHT MINISTER'S APPLICATION REQUEST FOR ADJOURNMENT A request that outsiders should be restrained from interfering in matters that concerned only the Orakei Maoris and the Crown was made yesterday by Mr. Sullivan in asking the Native Land Court to adjourn ari application from the Prime Minister Mr. Savage, in his capacity of Minister of Native Affairs, for a definition of Crown interests in tho elevated blocks of land at Orakei known as 4A2 and IA4. The Chief Judge of the Native Land Court, Mr. R. N. Jones, presided. Mr. Sullivan represented tho Maoris of Orakei who are concerned, and Mr. O. A. Darby, of tho Lands and Survey Department, represented the Crown. , Mr. Sullivan said that tho matter had been investigated as far back as 1930 by Judge Ache son, who had forwarded a report to Wellington. Mr. Savage, in a letter dated March 3, had stated that the best course to adopt regarding the Orakei blocks was to call during the forthcoming; session of Parliament a conference of the parties represented to discuss the position and arrive at some solution. Reference to Oity Council In a telegram of April 7 Mr. Savage stated that he intended to ask the Native Land Court to adjourn the application until a copy of the report could be supplied, continued Mr. Sulli\an. His last letter of April 16 advised that there was no authority for printing the report, but a typewritten copy vrould be made and forwarded. Mr. Sullivan refeiTed to the report qh the Orakei settlement submitted to the Auckland City Council last year by the Mayor, Mr. lanest Davis, which ho described as distinctly against the possibility of a settlement of the dis- \ pute, and asked through the Court that the City Council, should desist frominterfering in "the matter until it was settled by the Government. He then quoted various conclusions arrived at in the report. Reference to an area of 9J acres at Fort Bastion was also made by Mr. Sullivan, who said that it had been given to the Government by the Maoris 49 vears ago. "The City Council comes along as recently as, a week ago, and suggests that the l an d should be made a park, disregarding any possibility that it could be used for the natives who are liv:.ng in a congested area at Orakei," he added. Mr. Sullivan asked for an adjournment on the grounds that the Native Minister had agreed to it, and also requested that outsiders, busybodies. and well-meaning people should not be allowed to interfere until the matter was settled in a just way by the Government. Contention by Counsel "It would be unwise to say that the natives sold this block, got the money, and were well paid," continued Mr. Sullivan. "When the report of Judge Acheson is published, the people of tew Zealand and this city will have something to think about. The Orakei native claim shrieks for justice, and when the matter is investigated by the Government as promised, I am satisbed that justice will be granted to the native people." Mr. Darby said "he Crown did not oppose the adjournment, but he would point out than Mr. Sullivan had been alluding mostly to the proceedings in connection with the Parliamentary petition and Native Land Court inquiry into the Orakei question in 1928. lhe matter before the Court was purely concerned with the partition of interests as between the Crown and the natives. Such a partition would not place the natives in an any more unfavourable position than they would be otherwise. As far as the area of tort Bastion was concerned, the Crown had purchased the land and paid for it. Its subsequent destiny was a matter for conjecture. Attitude ol! the Court ' Mr. Sullivan said that if the interests of the natives were defined now, they would be left with a piece of land Ji acres in extent. Mr. Darby: But unoccupied. When the natives sold the top areas of the block, they were induced to sign transfers on tho understanding that • they would get areas of six and five acres on the flat, continued Mr. Sullivan. The land described-in the promises could not be found. Mr. Darby objected at this stage, saying that Mr. Sullivan's statements had been made without any foundation. Mr Sullivan replied that he was relying on the evidence of native witnesses at the Native Land Court inquiry. "So far as outsiders are concerned, it is no concern of the Court," said His Honor, in adjourning the application sine die. "If the City Council considers the health of the district ' that is its own concern. Tho Court will not bring any,public or private matters into this, which is only a question between the natives and the Crowm