NATIVE LANDS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12204, 31 July 1925, Page 11

NATIVE LANDS

SETTLEMENT AND RATING

LOCAL BODIES AND THE ACT DEPUTATION TO MINISTER Tlia Prime Minister, as Minister for Native Affairs, is not favourably disposed towards granting a Royal Commission to inquire into native land settlement and the rating of native lands by local bodies. His reply to an Auckland deputation on the subject suggested that local bodies should make better use of _ the simplified procedure laid .down in the Native Land Rating Act, 1924. The deputation, which consisted of Messrs G. A. Stanton and R. King, chairmen of the Taumarunui and Tauranga County Councils respectively, submitted to the Prime Minister a resolution gassed by a conference of 16 county councils at Hamilton on July 16th, urging that a Royal Commission be set up for _ the purpose stated, and with the object of simplifying the present procedure. The deputation was introduoel by Mr J. A. Young M.P. (Hamilton). ' Mr Stanton said that the Act of last session had made certain improvements, but it did not solve the problem of collecting rates on native lands. The local bodies objected to the provision that the final decision whether a native should pay rates or not was left to a judge of the Native Land Court.

Mr Coates: Have you had any practical experience of taking such matters before the Native Land OourtP Mr Stanton admitted that he had not. The trouble was, he said, that a local body might go through all the procedure of obtaining oharging. orders and liens, and then might find its claim vetoed by the judge. Even the new procedure was expensive and complicated, and, as a matter of fact, vet’y little had been collected under it. r Mr Contes: What do you advocate ? Mr Stanton: A Royal Commission. Mr Coates: But a Royal Commission does not get you very far. Mr Stantpn: It will get the facts. Mr Coates: But we have got the facts.

Dealing with land settlement, Mr Stanton said that the Native Land Boards had laid down no policy, and appeared to' follow none. Alter all arrangements had been made, a board might alter the valuation and terms of the lease, and there was no appeal from its decision. Leases had been cut down from 21 years to 10 years—altogether too short a term for hush land.

Mr Coates: I don’t think that can apply to hush land, hut only to land in boroughs or land that has been .broken in, except, of course, land that is taken for the, sake of the timber on it. I know of many hundreds of cases, and J cannot think of one such as you mention. He added that if specific cases could he cited he would be glad to know of them. Mr Stanton: The question is whether the policy of the hoards is to settle the land or not.

Mr Coates: The policy of the Government is that if Maoris want "their land they must work it, pay Tates, and accept the responsibilities of citizenship. If their interests have been consolidated and a title has been issued, rates must be paid. Where the ownership has been individualised, you have only to go to the Native land Court, and it must act. The ordinary Rating Act gives yon power to rate and sell, but you have been Mocked by the circumlocution. We have removed that, hut you say that you have no confidence in ; the Native Land Court.

Asked what definite grounds the Ideal bodies had to support the request for a commission, Mr Stanton said that the old conditions were being perpetuated the new Act. The county councils wanted rating and. native land tenure put on to a proper basis. .

Mr King said that the clerk of his own county found the preeent method of collecting native rates altogether too much trouble. Mr Ooates: We hare made it as simple ’as possible. We have to be careful not to shake the Maori’s confidence in the pakeha administration. As a matter of fact, the Maori Land Boards can use their assets for the payment of rates, but, of course, where one acre has 600 owners you can’t expect anything. ■ Mr Stanton remarked that an effort was being made to put through a test ease.

Mr Coates: I shall he very'glad to investigate it and see how Tong it takes. Our principle is that Maoris must accept the responsibilities of citizenship, and that land that is earning money must pay rates. Of course, In the hack country, where you have Crown and native land all mixed up, it is a different matter.