NATIVE DEBTORS.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15627, 1 August 1922, Page 5

NATIVE DEBTORS.

AMENDMENTS OF LAW.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce a circular-letter was received from the Wanganui Chamber, in which it was stated that the question of native debtors had been discussed with particular reference to the unfair position in which traders were placed. It was pointed out that, under the existing law judgment could be secured 'against a Maori, but the matter could not be carried further, as even though the Maori debtor held land an attachment could not be made against it, for the Maori under law was only a life tenant. It was therefore suggested that the Act should be altered in order that the rent of the land could be attached for the purpose of having an order made against such rent.

The secretary of the Chamber (Mr H. D. Vickery) wrote to the Wanganui Chamber for further particularslars, and received an answer which included the following statements :—“The question is dealt with in the Native Land Act, and it ap- ; fc;| pears that since the very earliest \ times it was considered necessary to protect natives from their own weaknesses and to render tribal lands and the income therefrom free from seizure, sale, or attachment. This pro- , tection does not apply to any land | purchased from Europeans, or to any personal property. Those traders who brought this question up point- . I ed out that natives obtained credit L from small traders and subsequently it is found that although they have a good income in the way of rent from their lands, the trader has no claim upon it to satisfy his debts. What is required, therefore, was an amendment to the Native Land Act, providing for such rents being attachable.” The chairman said it wa's very evident that this law was made to proteet the Maori from himself, and was no doubt a sound one. He moved N that the letter be which • was carried.