NATIVE TOWNSHIPS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11109, 25 October 1907, Page 6

NATIVE TOWNSHIPS.

(From our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. In the House yesterday afternoon' the Native Affairs Committee reported that it had no recommendaiou to make on the petition of a nuniDer of Europeans at Utiku. praying that they would this session pass legislation to" permit of the purchase of Native townships for the pury>axe of their conversion into town lands with the option of the freehold. Mr Remington urged that Native loa.ses were unsatisfactory, and had a great effect m retarding settlement. The Natives of Utiku realised this, and were perfectly m accord with the prayer of the petition. The leader of the Opposition supported this argument, urging that the Native townships'along the North Island railway Mere greatly crippled by the fact that the only tenure is what is known 'as a Native lease. It was the duty of the Government to give a lead m the matter. The Natives and Europeans were anxious to make an arrangement which would be to the interest of both parties, but the state of the law prevented that being done. Mr Field said the term of lease was 21 years, with right of renewal for n similar period, but there was no provision for substantial buildings being erected. Waikanae was an instance .of the defective state of the law. He urged that a tenant should be enabled to acquire the freehold at the present day value, and that tenants should be compelled to put up substantial improvements". Mr Jennings also supported the prayer of the petition. Mr Ell wanted to know why members did not demand the freehold ' for lessees m other towns, who held their lands under harassing conditions. He was sick of cant and humbug. They said that people would not build on leasehold lands. What rot. Look at King's Chambers, m Willis street, and the reclaimed land. The Native Minister, m the course of his remarks said the time had come when it was urged that the townships should be sold m order that the residents might be able to cany out the necessary sanitary works. That was a fair and valid claim, but what the Government wanted was that the claim should come from the Native owners. When that was done he was prepared to consider the matter. The power of purchase of. Native interests m these areas already existed under the Act of 1895, but before taking action he should like to be fortified with a statement from the Natives as to what m their opinion would be best m their interests. After further discussion, the report of the Committee was ordered to lie on the table. ' : '. .