NATIVE LAND SETTLEMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 5

NATIVE LAND SETTLEMENT.

HOW SALES ARE BLOCKED. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, August 5. The report of the Under-secretary for Native Affairs on the working of the Native Land Courts and Maori Land Boards for the past year was presented to the House of Representatives by the Minister (the Hon. W. 11. Herries) to-day. The Under-secrotary (Mr T. W. Fisher) remarks upon the evidences of increased activity in edftling old Native titles for the purposes of alienation. Steps are now Doing taken, ho says, to bring a large number of these long standing Native land titles up-to-date, and the majority of these titles or orders are without doubt being uplifted for one purpose —alienation either by way of sale or lease. Numerns offers were received and con : sidcrcd by the board. The actual purchases total 31.035 acres, and negotiations are being made affecting « number of blocks.

In connection with the purchase of Native lands by the Crown under part 18 of ‘‘The Native Land Act, 1909,” the Under-secretary says: —“1 would like to make some general remarks. It is reported that persons acting as proxies have attended meetings (of owners) solely for the purpose of endeavouring to defeat the sale to the Crown. Although no actual proof can bo brought to bear it is assumed that in some cases a proxy represents the lessee of the land or would-be purchaser or speculator besides acting for the Native owner, and bis knowledge and ability are brought to bear by the use of arguments that will appeal to the Native imagination and so defect the motion before the meeting. I am ci opinion that it would be preferab e for the board to decide under the provisions <> rule 49 of the regulations that the appointment of nroxiea be limited to other ownois of the block, so that outsiders could take no part in the meetings. It is further desirable in the larger blocks where a number of owners are concerned and a l11otl « n to sell has been defeated by a not fully representative meeting that provision shou.d exist for the Crown to acquire individual interests. . Mr Fisher shows how complex is the problem of getting individual subdivisions of Native blocks surveyed. Ho thinks however, that as far as vested lands are concerned the Maori Land Boards S J IOU take full control of these subdivisional surveys and reading for settlement purposes In conclusion Mr Fisher remarks that it will only be a question of a few more yea s when tlie Maoris will as a result of the activity displayed by the alienations a Rec to during the past three years for which period an average of 500 000 acres per annum has been alienated, be left with a limited area for occupation.