A MOVE FORWARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 172, 13 August 1909, Page 2

A MOVE FORWARD.

INDIVIDUALISING NATIVE LAND. NATIVE MINISTER'S SOHEME.

By Telo-rraph.-Fress Association. . Wellington. Last Night. | Amplifying the suggestions lie threw i out at Apawai the othi-r day lor improvement so as to facilitate uicliviiliuilisation in regard to native lands, the Hon. J. Carroll (Native .Minister), Stat-1 ed to-day:— "' ' \ (1) With regard to partitions, provision will he made whereby On the partition of any large block a proper loading seheine will he furnished to the Court before it parcels out the land unionist the owners. -Native custom will In. disregarded by the Court, except where a block-has-been awarded; to a tribe and this has been subdivided amongst the lupus or siili-tribes composii« the tribe. The purpose is to partition so that on completion of survey the various parcels are loaded for settlement, either by alteration or by sale or lease or by' the owners themselves effectively occupying on a good title.

) As lu sucees'sion, il is proposed I nnki' an important departure from ivi' customs, or r ntlnrr nutivf custom dclincd fnim tinii' tn time liy the urt. To secure uniformity of practice lie* of succession will he forniiiliiteil li.v lw: jruiihuice of the Court. 1 am now the English law uf succcsBion . If ii wholesale adoption of it will prevent the undue conges'tion of native hind titles it will he wholly adopted. At aiiv rate, there will he as elose an as-

iMiiiihition as is possible under present circumstance*. I would be strongly.opposed to a violent departure from native custom at the present time. It is' proposed that the Court he given discretion to select from amongst the next of kin in the game degree of relationship to the deceased those who on account of other considerations have greater claims when the successors are determined to a deceased person who is the owner in other blocks'. The duty will he thrown on the Court of allocat-

ing or distributing these amongst the successors. The most valuable effect will he from the point 6f view of the Maoris who will be educated to make their arrangements for partition and succession with a view to the easy utilisation of the land. To approach towards the

idea of individualization it is necessary to consolidate, the scattered interests. I think myself that this is more importtaut even than partition. It can he effected by exchange, but the exchange to be of much use has to be done on a

wholesale scale. The ordinary process o exchange will be. quite ineffective fo the purpose. Tt cannot he made staff, ciently clastic, but the exchanges no\ lwing cnrricil out require in the pre motors a high degree of business inte'i ligence. 1 propose therefore that th Court he empowered to entertai schemes that may he submitted td it b; the natives of any locality or distric for the consolidation of their interest! There will be a series' of exchanges lie twen individuals, families, hapus or an; number of natives conveniently groupe according to their present rclationshi] The titles to many blocks will requir to he amended. 'Many existing parti thins will (have to be wiped out o amended. Such an extensive undertal ing will require (he assistance of expert from the Land and Survey and Valua lion Departments', as the expense wii he heavy. Ido not think it will be tomuch to ask the State to assist in nn ravelling the difliculties. Xooossnrily .' heavy burden will fall upon the owneri all'ected. The .scheme whe?i fully matur cd should he submitted to the Governor ill-Council for approval and an Order-in Council approving the scheme should make it effective and operative. It then becomes necessary to obtain the Several departments of the State to carry out the details. Many registers will require to he amended and the orders of the Native Land Court and surveys altered.