Maori Beneficiaries To Receive £30,000 In Compensation

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 November 1948, Page 4

Maori Beneficiaries To Receive £30,000 In Compensation

PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Last Night (P.A.) —The payment of ,as compensation to Maori beneficiaries of native lands in Taranaki and the appointment of a special committee to assess their valuation for future rentals is provided for in the West Coast Settlement Reserv.es Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House ot Representatives tonight. The Bill was read a second time proforma and was referred to the Maori Affairs Committee. The Bill gives effect to recommendations of the Royal Commission which reported to the House earlier this session on the law relating to assessment of rentals under leases of West Coast Settlement Reserves, which are between the Waitotara River and Mount Messenger. Tne Commission consisted of a former Chief Justice of New Zealand (the Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Myers) and Messrs. A. M. Samuel and H. T. Reedy. The Acting-Prime Minister (Mr Nash) said the Commission had investigated the letting of certain lands leased some years ago. There was legislation dealing with the matter in 1935, but subsequently it was felt that some of the lands had been wrongly valued and it meant that the sum paid to the Maori beneficiaries was less than it should have been. This was assessed as between £5OOO and £6OOO per annum. The Commission recommended that £30,000 should be set. aside for those Maoris who owned the lands and that the lands be revalued by a special committee, the form of which had been recommended by the Commission, and the lands leased at new values. The Bill had been considered by the lessees, Maori owners, and the Maori Department, and there was unanimity on its provisions. The Bill cancels the existing leases and provides for new valuations to bo made and the renewals of leases on a new basis. Provision is made in the Bill for objections to the new valuations to be heard by a valuation appeal committee of three members. Compensation of £30,000 is to be paid out of the assurance and reserve fund of the Maori Trustees’ Account. A Maori trustee shall apportion the compensation among the beneficial owners of the reserves in such areas and proportions as he considers just arid equitable.