THE PUBLIC TRUSTEE.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 91, 17 May 1895, Page 2

THE PUBLIC TRUSTEE.

Wbek tie Hon. Mr Reeves was in Opunake, the Chairman of the Town Board brought under his notice the dissatisfaction which existed amongst native leaseholders with regard to the Trustee’s administration of the West Coast settlement reserves, and Mr Reeves promised to look into the matter when he got to Wellington. Mr Reeves did so, and the following memorandum, which we.s duly forwarded to the Chairman of the Town Board, is the result: — Public Trust Office, Wellington. [Memo.] Hon. Mr Reeves. The land in question is comprised in an estate of which the life interest is vested in certain private persons, and which must be administered subject to “’.'he West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1892,” and entirely in the interests of those persons. The strong feel ng of the Opunake residents respecting my administration of this really private property must be re-

> garde" by me, and tQ justify any concern of the Government been shown, to be warranted by a neglect, not of the interests of settlement, but of the intere-ts of the private persons having the life interest. The Public Trustee, in his administration of those reserves, or indeed of any other trust, is the servant of the trust. He must not, in the exercise of his discretion, be influenced otherwise than by the interests of the trust. His reference even to the Government for direction or approval would imply that he had not exercised the statutory discrection, aud might form a ground for legal proceedings. I must be guided by this principle in all ray arrangements for offering the lands, including the proposals for laying off roads and advertis ng, and on my observance of this principle will the measure be regulated of a justifiable administration. The proper course to be taken by those who hive any objection to offer to my acts, is to consider whether these acts are or are not in the interests of the beneficiaries, and, in this case, whether procet lings would succeed. (Signed) J. K. Warburton. He is very fulsome in placing his idea c’ his status before the public, and is is regardless of the Government aud h Jsees as is a periwinkle when cased i its shell. All the land which constr ites these reserves was a source of great trouble to the Government, as if the Maori owners had been allowed to alienate it without Government interference it would have all been bought from them years ago, and the purchase money most likely spent ere now. The Government, however, would hot permit such alienation. The fact of it remaining in the hands of the Ma6ns meant that it would re; main waste, aud consequently unproductive, besides being such a barrier to the general welfare of the district, as well as a hatching ground for mischief amongst the natives. The question then was to arrive at some means by which the lands could be settled and made productive, and at the same time provide a livelihood for the native owners. The Government held that they were equally responsible for the welfare of Europeans and Maoris, and the outcome of their desire to protect and conserve the interests of both races resulted in the passing of “ The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1892. As the name of the Act implies, it was for promoting settlement that it vas passed. Very absolute and autocradc power was given to the Public Trustee under this Act, so that ha would be clear of political influence in carr; ing out the measures necessary to give* 'iffect to the legislation, and he was set up to see fair play between the native owners and the lessees. Very soon it was found that he was totally oblivious of the interests of the Europeans, and lost no chance of grinding the last fraction out of them on behalf of the native owners, totally regardless of whether such action brought ruin on them or not, or whether further solid settlement was promoted or not. This action lessees were quite at a loss to understand, as they were under the impression that the Government had delegated their powers to him to look after their interests. Now' he has declared himself, and snubs the Government, by informing them, in the above memorandum, that his actions are no concern of theirs, and that his only care is the native owners and their interests. If the Government coincide in this opinion, then we must say that the native lessees are the moat unfortunate class of tenants ia the colony, as they are placed outside all bounds of protection and are at the tender mercy of a pure-bred Sbylock. Crown tenants, if aggrieved, may appeal to the Land Board for redress or consideration ; if not granted there, they may approach the Minister of Lands, and if not listened to, then they may petition Parliament. The native 1 ;ssees, on the contrary, have no such redress, and on making moderate representation of their grievances to a Minister of the Crown, and that Minister approaches the Trustee, only to be in ormed, that to be taken any notice o by him, or to justify any concern of the Government, it must be shown t lat he has neglected the interests c the natives, and not the interests c ' settlement, or of the lessees. This position, in the face of the expressed intention for which the Act was passed, is altogether untenable, and decidedly intolerable. As we have previously suggested, it is time the native leaseholders formed a properlyconstituted league, by which means they could make their voice and weight heard an 1 felt, and demand that they be placed on a similar footing to other settlers in the colony;- * '