NATIVE COMMISSION ACT.

Otago Witness, Issue 714, 5 August 1865, Page 9

NATIVE COMMISSION ACT.

A Bill intituled an Act for the declaring certain rights of the Aboriginal Natives of New Zealand and for enabling the Governor to appoint a Commission for certain purposes.

Whereas it is expedient as far as possible

remove the obstacles which exist to the

3]enjoyment by the aboriginal inhabitants of New Zealand of the rights and privileges of natural born subjects of her Majesty within the colony and further that a Commission should be issued for the purpose of obtaining information for the guidance of the General Assembly in reference to legislation on matters affecting the wellbeing of perMoas of the native race —

Be it enacted by tho General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same as follows : —

I. The short title of this Act shall be "The Native Commission Act, 18G5."

11. All persons of the aboriginal race, ■whether born before the colony of New Zealand became a dependency of Great Britain or since are hereby declared to have within the colony all the rights and to be subject to all the liabilities whatsoever of natural-born subjects of her Majesty. lIL The Governor is hereby empowered to issue a Commission under the public seal of the col.'ny directed to not less than twenty nor more than thirty-five persons of tbe Native race and to such other persons of the European race not bf ing less than three nor moru in number thin five. And to cause the persons named in such Commission to be summoned to attend at such time and place or times and places as he shall think fit.

IV. No person shall be entitled to be present at or to 'ake part in the proceedings of the Commission unless he shall first have made and subscribed before some person to be appointed in that behalf by the Governor a declaration to the following effect : — I (A.8.) do solemnly declare that I submit myself to the Government of

the Queen and will obey her laws. V. Ten Commissioners shall be a quorum. VI. The Governor may from time to time make and frame regulations ior the appointment of a president clerk and other officers of the Commission for fixing the time and place of meeting of the Commissioners for the adjournment of such meetings and generally lor the conduct of business of the Commissioners and he ma} 7 j from time to time alter any vary any such regulations and may rescind the same or any of. them. VII. It shall be the duty of the Commissioners and they are hereby required to examine and report to the Governor as to the most expedient mode of defining an electoral franchise to be conferred temporarily and pending tbe conversion of their customary titles to land into titles under grant from the Crown upon persons of the Native r&ce and of ascertaining the persons qualified to vote at elections in respect of such franchise and regulating the conduct of election so far as relates to such electors and geuerally as to the most advisable mode in which persons of the native race may be admitted to tbe practical exercise and enjoyment of equal political rights with others of her Majesty's subjects and also to examine into and report upon all other matters affecting the interests and

well-being of the native race which may be from time to time submitted for their consideration by the Governor. VIII. The Commissioners may report from time to time.

IX. Every report of the Commissioners shall bo present' d to the Governor and -li.il! he Lid 1> lore both Houses of the Gensr.i! Assemble forthwith if the General Assembly snail he tVu in session or if not ihen ip.imejiiau lv on the opening of the next s f^um ut the Assembly. X. The Governor is empowered to maife such payments and allowances to Commissioners and to pay and allow such other charges and expenses incidental to the Commission and the working thereof as he shall think fit. And the Colonial Treasurer is hereby authorised iv pursuance of the Governor's warrant to make all such payments and allowances out of the ordinary revenue of the colony. XI. The powers hereby vested in the Governor shall be exercised by the Governor in Council.

XII. No Commission issued under this Act shall continue in force after the thirtyfirst day of December one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.