Taranaki Herald. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30,1905. MAORI LANDS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 12975, 30 September 1905, Page 4

Taranaki Her ald. SATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 30 ,1905. MAORI LANDS.

. ( Although 'it '» is hardly possible i£iat the Maori Land i Settlement; O^ill, which was only introduced in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, can be passed this session, it is a matter for satisfaction that a definite move has been made in ' the direction of dealing with so important a question. So important; indeed, is it, that it is scarcely- desirable that its" ,£'onsideration should be) hurried aHd tfiat the Bill should Ibe passed, ether in its present or an amende 1 form, without much more care t lan the House will be able to devate to it at so late a . stage of tie; session. If it passes' its first >r< sading and becomes; circulated tiroughou.t the country a step in alvance will have, been made, and the next Parliament will be better aile to deal with it. The main p rovisions of the measure are that tfie Maori . Land Councils, instead oi. having seven, , members y shafl consist of three', all to be appointed by the Governor, one member at lejast being, a Maori. > For the purpose of enabling , the Councils to proceed with the: issue of papak|anga certificates a list is to be prepared showing the lands or interests in lands held or owned by ekch Maori,' ; and a copy of this likt, or of such part xA it as may b^ necessary, is to be furnished to the president of each Council: Clause 6 defines the provisions under which the Native Minister may alcjuire for settlement any native Ifjnds which are not required o£ ajre not suitable for occupation by the native owners. Such lands are tp be vested in and be administerefl by the Councils for the benefit of the owners. The Council / may reserve any portion of the land for the use of the owners, or for papakl&igas, burial grounds, eel{ pas, i ffsfting grounds, bird reserves, timber or fuel reserves, or other. PUTt, pjoses. The balance of the land is to "be classified as follows :-—Ftfjstclass land, comprising agricultural, laitd ; second-class land, comprising, miked . agricultural and pastoral lantt ; third-class land comprisinglliid that can be profitably worked in'kreas of 5000 "acres or less; and f^rth-class land, comprising | pascal land, sthat cannot be profitably worked in areas of 500° acres 0*? less. The! land is to be surveyed? and subdivided into allotments not exceeding the following areas : '—First-class land 640 acresj sec-ond-class land 2000 acres, > thirdolass land 5000 acres, fourtlihclass land' 15,000 acres. Such allotments may be disposed of by the pounxal fey way of lease for any term or terms not exceeding in the whole 50 years. A definite number of allotments may be set aside for application,- in the first instance, by the Maori owners" of the land^^lfiie .conditions upon which leases, may be granted are Set fdr.tn\ i'and provision is made for*, the, X^Guncils^p .finance their operations anil votlieus j

wise to administer the lands. At , first siifht the Bill appears to have in it the- makings of~*i'R oocl -* v<>r . ible measure, but the subject is so mrrounded ,;with difficulties that -axitibh is necessary find the fullest iiscussiqn /desirable.. | The Maori Land " Councils ,are an admitted [aikire-twid -something must be done to relorm.them or wipe them outaf existence, laSa since their shortcomings^ a?e^now .so evident it ? ught,,.to . ,be possible to reform them, andtlveii-riinctions in some such way is' proposed. At any rate Ihe^ Bill is welcome and is entitled ' io ' ' t% best ' ■ consideration that can "be given it. - r>ECIiEATLON \ motf XßS. ! The 1 Suggestion mad«« Uy Mr, Coll is in i lottor mi 1 another eol'inin with rernr.! U, the £50 a year " Lv^uired by 'he " li-'i'i-oatn'o'n: grounds Board xo malic 14; for temporary Joss oi revenue fiom the sports ground by tlio proseitition of extensive improvomrtits, is a gocd <.ne. If thc3 l^lans submitted by siose it.t rested! in sp'"orfs ancl' games meet with the approval of th« Board —and jjnierstand JLhevJ d->— it would be Ja great pity to -Allow the > opportunity, flow presenting uwU °t rorniing- a^'firsj-class ground in the domain to be lost for tho wont _<»f a little enterprise and'ener'oy. Ma«y years ago the atnle'tic 7 loving- portion of tho RommnnityiVndertook.what was th'sn a much jnpre. formidable \np\ in • w. claiming the waste land' awT swamp which now form^' ihe' sports * jfi-mind A >inf?!o •etii»v,- 1^6 >> .(tK«> l - < Stav,.i ? oot-. baU C"lub)' lud Jlie ent^rpri.s« to provide itself with a ground, with cycle track, "etci, at Fitzroy . wvcwl '.voars ago. Similar -energy p"t into the present scheme would result in pouring a spurts ground: unique in Ue pwyinco and unsurpassed in the colony. T[ th- 3 matter of gimrantc-ing the .CaO. a year ' fo^tKeyJpard gUhds %iw the way, we are quite suro.twero would b 3 no difficuHy in carrying out Mr CollisV suigMtVonV whicK » tl.-it ammdred new annual subscribers he obtained at ten shillings- oaoli. s Te commend, the sugjrestion to the- Sports Committee., '