THE MAORI MEETING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6140, 29 March 1898, Page 1

THE MAORI MEETING.

THE NATIVE LAND QUESTION. .[Pkk Phfss Association.! AUCKLAND, March 28. The Hon J. Carroll was interviewed to-day with reference to the Government proposals to be made at the Huntly Native meeting. Regarding the first proposal, stopping the sale of Native land, either to the Government or private purchasers, he said : In the first place the Government have already made large purchases of Native lands. They have what they consider a sufficient quantity of land, and their next step will be to see into the matter of title, and get everything in this connection placed upon a satisfactory basis. Some of the titles are rather complicated, and will require to be looked very carefully into, and this duty will be at once undertaken by the Government, previous to. the lands purchased being thrown open for settlement. The fact that a large area of land, some of it of splendid quality j is open for leasing should certainly give an impetus : . to settlement, and there is every probability, should the proposals meet with approval, that in a few years land Avhich is at present lying idle and unproductive will be settled and cultivated. The demand for land exceeds the present supply, but with permission being given to the Natives to lease their land the demand will be readily met. It is improbable that the Government will exercise an immediate supervision over the. granting of all leases of Native lands. What may possibly be done will be the establishment of Land Boards for the purpose of administering the lands in the same manner as Crown Lands Boards deal with matters pertaining to the throwing open and occupation of Crown lands. So far as the personnel of the Boards is concerned, it would be rather premature to enter into such details, but personally I think that the constitution may be arranged in this way:— The Government could have representatives on the Boards, and the Natives could also be represented by a certain number of members. These members would naturally attend closely to the interests of the Natives, and would doubtless pay particular attention to the terms and conditions on which the lands would be leased. Of course, the other members would do the same, the object being to arrange the leases so that the best rents would be obtained for the benefit of the Natives. I cannot say how the proposals will be accepted by the Natives. Some of the most intelligent, however, are desirous that permission should be given them to lease their lands, and may be expected to give strong support to tho proposals when they are laid before them. The opinions of a few of the leading Eangatiras were .ascertained, vand the .general opinion appeared to be that the * proposals, if given effect to, would 1 relieve the Natives from the difficulty at, present experienced of how to. reap the benefits which; should be obtained from the large area of land at present in their possession. It i 3 certain that these proposals will be carefully considered at the conference between the Minister and the Natives which will be held to-morrow.