NATIVE LANDS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8792, 22 April 1907, Page 2

NATIVE LANDS.

The Commissioners' Reports.

Per Press Association,

TV ELLINGTON, April 20.

Sir Robert Stoat and Mr Ngata, M.H.E., Native Land Commissioners, have forwarded to Government two interim reports on the investigations they have lately completed concerning native lands in Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay districts. The conclusion they come to is that the mode of dealing with native lands in the past has 1 not been beneficial to the natives nor to IE

luropeans bestirring to obtain land for settlement, nor to the State. With reference to Waimarama Block they recommend that Government, which has already purchased 7000 acres for European settlement, should make further purchases, that part' of the land should be divided among certain native claimants, that the daughter of the original lessee should be allowed to lease 4000 acres at 7s an acre, and that the area assigned to Arini Donnelly should be increased to 3458 acres. The accounts of original lessees showed that during the last thirteen years the lessees made a profit only in the last three years. The Commissioners consider that it they are bound by the terms of tho Commission to inquire into profits made by holders of native lands in Hawke’s Bay and other districts, they will be assisted by those who have held or are holding native lands on leases. The second report dated March 22, deals with blocks totalling 61,703 acres in Wairoa County. There has been protracted and costly litigation to ascertain, and allocate titles, and the holdings are so cut up and scattered as to make it impossible to apportion the interest of each of the owners. To do so would result in the owners paying the value of the land several times over. In the Nubakn Block particularly there has been

a mania for Kmb-cUvision. The wishes of the Maoris themselves are stated by the

Commissioners to be to lease to some of themselves, the majority of the lessees being heads of families or «connected by marriage with owners; small families whose interests are allocated desire to continue occupation; in a few cases owners preferred to lease to the highest bidder; small areas to be reserved The report recommends that a staff of surveyors bo detailed for necessary work at once. Observations on such questions as apportionment of survey charges, taxes, liability for keeping down weets and rabbits are reserved for the. general report. In the schedules are given recommendations on each block which the report summarises. The area proposed for reserves is 2-145 areas, for family farms, individual owners and counties, 11,930 to be leased to Maori tenants, 34,248 suitable for general settlement, unconditional 0044, conditional 4103, leased to Europeans 1780, unsuitable for settlement 1132. Under these proposals the Commissioners say over 200 natives will be put on their own land with good titles to fair sized holdings. They add that if the district Maori land board wero permitted to grant leases to Maori tenants specified by the owners or to issue occupation licenses or certificates of partnership or incorporation to individual owners, families or keepers, there would be no necessity for further legislation.