THE NATIVE LAND QUESTION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume xx, Issue 6637, 29 March 1893, Page 3

THE NATIVE LAND QUESTION.

HOW TO SOLVE THE DIFFICULTY

BOROUGH COUNCILLORS' OPINIONS

Recently the Borough Council received from the Auckland Reform League a circular requesting their support to a resolution urging up«n Government the necessity of at once doing something in Native matters. A resolution which is being passed by all the local bodies was affixed fo r the Council's endorsement, but it was decided by the members present to set up a comtnittct to go thoroughly into the question and to bring up a resolution embodying the ▼iows of the Council aa to what should be done.

At the meeting last evening Cr Whinray presented two meiroranda, one drafted by himself and the other by the Mayor. They were as follows : —

Cr Whin ray s report. — " Re Native land difficulty and settlement, I beg to submit the [undermentioned resolutions *o this committee for adoption, together with amendments and additions as the committee may think will best assist to a Gnal solution of this great question. The time has come when all Native land legislation should bo to place the Natives as far as possible upon the same footing as the other subjects of the colony with their rights and responsibilities. 1. That the Government should avail itself at the earliest opportunity of acquiring from the Natircs all of their surplus lands in the colony not required for the maintenance and support of the Natives themselves. That p. large area of land, situated between the Tuuranga district aud the southern boundaiy of the Auckland province on this part of th« East Coast, is still in the hands of the Natives. That the Government should take immediate steps to acquire as much as possible of that area, paying special attention in the interests of settlement to obtaining lands as near the coast line as possible. Such a course would reduce the difficulty that has largely obtained of settlers getting upon the back blocks through the large outlay necessary in road-making. 2. Thai every facility should be afforded the Natives for having their titles individualised by the Native Lands Court. That this colony has reached such a point in its history that it should • don the man,' and by well-directed legislature rise to its superior position, which ita climate and resources warrant it should do, and but for this Native difficulty would have been the premier colony of the British Crown. I would suggest that the County Council and Harbor Board should be asked to co-operate with the Borough Council in pissing some sucli resolution to the above effect, and that copies of the same should Iw ■eat to the Native Minister and the Premier to strengthen their hands in finding a solution to a question that is paramount to all others in this colony."

The Mayor's memorandum — Report of Committee "on Native Land Laws. How to bring the present large estate of Native waste lands into profitable occupation ?— Your Committee beg to recommend for consideration of this Council : Ist. That all the lands now held by Natives and not required by them, or in any way occupied by any Natives, and being lands in a rough stat%of nature, be taken possession of by the Government as waste lands of the Crown, and ha dealt with in the same manner as Crown lands. All proceeds, whether from sale or rents, if the lands are leased, to be invested in the Government securities on behalf of the owners of each block, so far us eacli block can be ascertained, and when the ownership ia decided the interest to be paid halfyearly to such owners of lands which shall have been sold, and the rents to be paid to the owners of such blocks as shall be leased, Government acting as trustees. The Government to take all expenses first out of the proceeds of sale or lease. Government, of course, working entirely in the interest of the Native owners, would be bound to keep al\ expenses as low a3 possible. This applies to all lands not in any way dealt with. By some such means the Natives would oe prevented from selling all their lands, and ultimately becoming panpers, the Government on the other hand would not have to find large Bums of money to purchase Native lands, which causes the sums so invested to be idle for many years until the lands are resold. This system would also do away with the delays which now take place in the tribes defining the owuership of the various blocks. Turn the waste lands into cash, and tho ownership will soon follow when the Natives know what they are losing by delaying the ownership to the blocks. On no account allow any private dealings with the Native lands which are free from complications. 2. Lands which have been dealt with.— Many difficulties surround this question, and as wo have seen statements from the judges of the Supreme Court, we have no law to meet the cases in dispute between European purchasers and Native owners. These purchases will have to be settled the best way that can he devised for the purpose. And which is this to be ? The Native Land Court seeni3 to present the means for this purpose. Let the Judges of our Native Land Court have power to act as a Coutt of Equity and give their decisions according to equity and good conscience, and such judgments to be final, no appeal being, allowed from the Native Land Court. If the present Judges are not equal to such cases as may be brought before the Court, then let the Government appoint new Judges who shall be invested with all the necessary power. The present Native Land Laws to be repealed so far as they would prevent the new system from working in the settlement of disputed purchases. 3 Rating Native lands. — To attempt to rate Natives who have no means to pay rates, and who never receive any cash whatever, i 3 simply rating the wind, liut all Natives who are in profitable occupation of lands should be rated just the same as Europeans. There should be no exception in rates. Your Committee commend the above ideas to the careful consideration of this Council. The appointment of committees composed of Natives to deal with the various blocks of land can only mean prolonging the present undecided state of afiuirs.

Cr Whinray said this was a burning question and the people were beginning to persist in something being done. He was ashamed that a circular asking them to conaider the question had come from a place like Auckland. He hoped that the Council would be able to make a compound of the reports of the committee and pas 3 them on to the other local bodies.

Cr Joyce said he had hoped that the committee would have brought up some definite suggestions, but it appeared to him to be an extraordinary conglomeration.

Cr Whinray said he suggested two tilings in his report — that the Government should acquire all the surplus lands not necessary for the support and maintenance of the Natives, and that the Government should give every assistance to the Natives to have their interests individualised. The Mayor in his report had added a number of other suggestions, which did not clash. Cr fSomervell thought that they should express their opinion to the Government. He liked the idea of the Mayor that the Government should take over all the lands of the Natives and administer them for the benefit of the Maoris. He thought they should sweep off all the laws from the face of the statute book. He thought no special legislation was necessary for the Natives, for his opinion of this was that if you start dealings between an European and a Native you can give the former 10 points out of 20, and before they have gone far the Native will have the best of it.

Cr Harding thought that the report should be put into a more ship-shape state. ) Cr Lewis said that he was one of the committee, but had had little time to give to the matter. He, however, agreed in the main with the suggestions, but did not believe in going into such details. The Government had brains enough to find the details. The report should be put in a more abbreviated form before adoption.

Cr Whinray : The whole thing is in a nutshell.

Cr Joyce: In a very big nutshell. The whole thing might be put in a more modified and definite manner. The report contained a great deal of explanatory explanations, without explaining themselves in the end. He agreed with the Government taking over the Native lands by arbitration at a fair valuation. He moved that the report be referred back for consideration.— Cr Hepburn seconded.

Cr Whinray failed io see how the Com jpittee could Jftake tbemgelve* more intel

ligible in le«s space. There was nothing to abbreriate. I Crs Somervell and Harding thought the thanks of the Council were duo to the Mayor and Cr Whinray for their reports. The proposition was carried.