MAORI LANDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6450, 22 February 1908, Page 10

MAORI LANDS

THE GOVERNMENTS POLICY. A PRACTICAL BEGINNING. A Gazette ” notice declaring certain areas of native land in the Tarfcawluti Maori Land District to be subject to Part XI. of the Native X/and Settlement Act marks the practical beginning of the Government’s scheme for securing profitable utilisation of unoccupied native lands. - Briefly, - - the method is to ascertain how; much land can be utilised by its native owners, allocate it to them, and throw 7 the remainder open for European settlement, subject to safeguards which protect the Maori from his own extravagance or from exploitation by the land speculator. One of the first areas reported upon by the Native Land Commission was that including the Mohaka, Tutaekuri, Tutuotokaha, and Nuhake blocks, situated between Napier and Gisborne. .Tho total area involved was 61,703 acres, of which 11,930 acres was recommended to be set aside as farms for individual owners, families, or incorporated committees, and 31,248 acres for leasing to specified Maori tenants. In this way the needs of the native owners were proposed to be met, and tho current “Gazette” notice enables this practical step to bo taken. Tho areas are vested in the Maori Laud Board, which will issue tho leases, recover fair rents from tho natives, and distribute the proceeds among the imtive owners who may as lessees have contributed to the fund. The definite allocation of land to individual natives, and tho granting of a good title will enable the more industrious to make improvements without fear of being deprived of the benefit as was the case under the old communal system. What is of more importance to European settlement is that tho native owners of blocks aggregating 61,703 acres are provided with all the land they require. a substantial balance being left for European occupation. The Commission considered that over 10.000 acres was suitable for general settlement. ___