NATIVE LANDS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13431, 23 March 1907, Page 2

NATIVE LANDS.

(SITTING OF THE CQMMISSION(Per Press Association.)

WANGANUI, March 22.

Tho Native Land Commission sat here. to-day.» The blocks which were the sub^ject of discussion were the Morikau No T ,1 of 1400 acres, Morikau N^o. 2 of 1400 acres, Whakaihuwaka 14,000 apres, and «Taamatamahoe 42,000 aGres* 1 Representative Maoris, who gave evidence,, said lli,ey were in sympathy with the suggestions made by the Commission at other places, and agreed that the land at present was not only to a large extent ljSing idle, but for want of cultivation was deteriorating. The general Opinion was that the sale of land should cease, and that leasing should be prosecuted. Land not used by t the Maoris for. village purposes should be leased to Maoris for farms, and the balance ,of- ! fered to Europeans. It, was also generally conceded that money derived .from tho lease of land should not be handed direct to the Maoris. .It was shown that in the great majority of cases the money (£27,000 or £28,000), which the Maoris had recently received for the sale of their lands', had been dissipated. The Commission resumes to-morrow. :

WANGANUI, March 23.

At the Land Commission this morning a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce waited on the members a4d urged ( that some means be devise^ for , collecting rates on native lands, giving instances of local bodies having large amounts on their books which they were ''unable to collect.

Tho Chief Justice said the remedy appeared to be in ,the natives being encouraged to farm, their lands, as they could not be expected to pay rates on lands yielding no 'profit. The day's proceedings at the Commission were chiefly occupied in hearing ovidenco in regard to up-river blocks, and it was stated by one* native witness that one block was badly overrun with blackberry, over 1000 acres being perfectly impenetrable. The witness blamed the missionaries for introducing the blackberry.