MAORI HOLDINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26778, 22 May 1948, Page 9

MAORI HOLDINGS

EXCLUDED FROM LAND SALES RESTRICTIONS

P A WELLINGTON, May 21. In contrast with the Land Sales Court, the Maori Land Court had no power to stabilise land values for the benefit of ex-servicemen by reducing the purchase price of land, nor could the Maori Land Court impose conditions to a like effect, as any such condition must necessarily be against the interests of a Maori vendor, stated a iudgment delivered in the Maori Land Court by Judge Whitehead. The iudgment, which is of gieat importance in relation to the sals of land, continues: “ This review of the general position is applicable not only to the' present application, but to all similar applications, in many of which the purchase price far exceeds the The court is fully aware that tire final result is that Maori vendors will not only receive the protection of the Maori Land Court to which they are entitled, but they will be in a position to get higher prices for their land than is permitted to Europeans in similar circumstances.” It is suggested that if the Legislature wishes to remove this apparent anomaly, or to modify its effect in any way, some statutory amendment would he necessary.