WEST COAST SETTLEMENT RESERVES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13749, 11 September 1908, Page 7

WEST COAST SETTLEMENT RESERVES.

In reply to a quoafcrbn by Mr. Okey, M, P., as to whether the Government will make some provision whereby a number of tenants under' the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, who did not take the necessary steps during the time allowed for extending their leases, may have the fight of doing so in some way that <will be fair to the Natives , and themselves. The The Minister said:— "Under the provisions of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act-repealed by the Act of 1892, section V of the 1892 Act validated all leases previously granted. Clause (k) of subsection (3) of section Bof The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 189& gave all such lessees the option of surrendering their leases within one year from the date o*f that Act and obtaining fresh leases. Section, 10 of The Native Reserves Act Amendment Act, 1895, further extended lihat period for three years. Again, in 1898, by section 20 Of the Reserves, Endowments, and Crown and Native Lands Exchange, Sale, Disposal and Enabling Act, the time allowed was extended for another two years, so -that all lessees at the time of the passing of The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1892, had the option for six years of surrendering their leases and obtaining new leases under that Act. Circulars were sent by registered letters tor", lessees, informing ,them of the extension, and notice was klso given theni : by advertisements and locals in\the ; district newspapers. A .good many p| the lessees availed themselves of the privilege of doing, so. The Natives interested are now strongly ■opposed to Skhy more perpetual leases being granted' of their lands. There i£ a doubt as to whether the right of renewal is to be for twenty-one or thirty ■ .one or two terms, and whether the renewals is to be for twenty-one or thirty years. The- Public Trustee is now gettjng the opinion of the Supreme Conit _ on this point without expense to the lessees. »T.hey have been fairly treated, and the Government cannot further extend the time; already given."