NATIVE LAND QUESTION

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 7

NATIVE LAND QUESTION

PROGRESS TOWARDS SETTLEMENT

STATEMENT BY MR KERRIES

AUCKLAND, June 1

A statement of the present position in regard to the Native land policy of the Government was made by the Minister of Native Affairs (the Hon. H. W. Kerries) in an interview.

In referring to the activity that had been shown during the past year, Mr Kerries said: “The sections of the 1913 Act, which practically amalgamated the Native Land Courts and Maori Land Boards, came into operation on March 31, 1914. As is the case with all new arrangements, some little time elapsed before full working order was obtained, but in a very short time the benefit of the amalgamation was felt, and the system is working admirably. In the matter of Native land purchase considerable progress has been made. An area of 96,000 acres has been purchased during the year, and proclamations forbidding private alienation have been issued over another 100,000 acres, interests in which have been already obtained. Purchases have been, and are being, made, especially along the route of proposed railways, on the Stratford Main Trunk line, on the Tauranga-Gisborne line, and on tho Napier-Gisborne line. In the last-mentioned case the titles of the Waikare and Mohaka Blocks, which have long been a stumbling block, have been satisfactorily settled by legislation, and large_ interests have been purchased in tho more important of the blocks, covering an area of about 45,000 acres. Purchase is going on in the Native lands north of Gisborne, where leases held by Europeans are now falling in. Large blocks hero have been proclaimed, and are now being purchased. They contain some of the finest grazing land in the dominion, and are very suitable for cutting up. It is hoped that before long the East Coast will carry a large population of European settlors. Nothing has been done where the Natives arc desirous of farming for themselves, and tho blocks that have been incorporated by the Native owners for farming purposes have been exempted from the operations of the ISI3 Act,

“ Finality has at last been reached in the ascertainment of the vast Urewa Country, and the Native land purchase officers have been instructed to continuepurchasing any interests that can bo purchased in the block, in which the Crown has already interests. When all the interests that can bo purchased have been obtained the interests of the non-sellers vwill be cutout, the blocks surveyed, and declared Crown land. Numerous offers to sell have boon received from Native owners in other portions of the Urowa country, and the Crown is prepared to deal with those offers provided a price can be agreed upon. Until the Crown has consolidated its interests it would not be aviso to throw open the land for private alienation; indeed, the surveys are not far enough advanced to permit of private persons buying. “Another great change is taking place on the West Coast of the North Island, owing to the operation of ‘The West Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment Act, 1913.’ The old Parihaka wall has boon taken down, and the West Coast Reserve is being partitioned by a court presided over by Judge Jack. By this means the unleased portion of the reserves can bo settled by the owners with secure freehold titles. Besides this, in the 13,009 acres, the leases of which came due lately, fresh leases have been given to last for 10 years, after which the land will revert to the Maori owners, who will then enjoy the advantage of the partition. Meanwhile, the Crown can purchase, and is only waiting for partition to be completed to deal with numerous offers for sale that have been received. Some action is being taken in the Native township. Steps are being taken to acquire for the Crown the freeholds of Otorohanga and a portion of Taumarunui. Negotiations have also been going on with regard to To Kuiti.”