NATIVE LAND COMMISSION.

West Coast Times, Issue 14177, 30 July 1907, Page 4

NATIVE LAND COMMISSION.

Weuungton. Jnly27 The Native Land Commia-ioDer's report* were laid on the table of the House ywterday. In addition to dt tatted reports on the lands in toe Wangaiiui and tbe King Country districts, tbere is » general one dealing with the interim re''ffortt as ft whole, whiob coot tins tbe following recommendations, (a) General — l.Tbat the purchase of native lands by tbe Crown under the present system be discontinued. 2 Tfcat alienation by direct negotiations between tbe owners and private individuals be prohibited. (Id «|oh case provision to he made for dealings a'ready pending.) 3 Further alienations to be ma 'c through- tbe Br^'d as agent for the own^n oe in. case of. land* tes'ed in it as registered owners of such lands, and Maori settlement. 4 Astd lands net apart for Maori occupation and fatminp, power to be given to the Board to reguUfce use of th?«e art as. 5 Boards to have Fpecinl powers ft»totmber,flax, anrl minerals. C The Board may effer Innds ' after a rough curve} ii-tiioa ting allotment. Arterial roads may bn aid out aud formed where absolutely DecefiFary.^ Before Rejection, the cost of reading and survey to be loaded en to the Factions, 7 Boards t") be sonetitottd as at prfFent, but tbe Comml«p»oQ thinks tbnt ihe presidei t* if.hi aid be drawn from ropn ixperienced in the cutting op aud the Jet'iug of lmdß a tic shot Id be GotPrnment officers paid by the Gtvernmeiit, ibeir Uavelling al-)<w»i>c-8 to" bo's cburge on the revenue f joni Ihe Iffnd. Etch .board to have a <{' ropetent accotntstt as clerk and receiver. 8 The Governor-in-Oouncil may rtcnpt lands from tbe operation of above proposals on condition that tbe land so iXoepttd eta!) be sold or leafed at euction. An txorp ion may be aade id favour of any owner who is considered able to tr>an«c« bis own -affairs. 9 'ihe juris* d>< t<p of the Lano Conrt Bhould be Itniif'd as to laud administered by tbe board in tbe matter of partition?, but not in r card to succession^ and textamentar) deposition, the a? cer tain mert of ownero or b< nrfic arie?, and tbe adjustmert of duputtd tribal boundarifs. Tbe Oourtß may partition on the application of the board. 10 The law requires amendment to permit of ixchanges on a large scale so as to secure tbe cor solidatn.n of individual and family holdings, (b) Specific Thtse are concerned with individual blocks. Stress is laid on the necessity of .expedition in the survey* of uative laudf, which is commended to the earner attention of Government and Parliament, The following is the art ato far iovestigated and reportad on by tht (Jommisoiou:— Hawkes Bay, for Maori occupation and farming 76,C03 acres, fn> leading 14,827, and for sale 2,300. Wangauni, for Maoris 49,964, and fot hating 92,443. King Country, for Maoris 92,148, leaping •- 198,769, ; Bale 34,522. -'lots) | 626,977. .; I There are still \» be draU with: - Waujjnnui 90,486, and the KmgCJountri 659 ?90. Tbe DomoiiMioners say that if. tb« Mnori is to become an industrious oitiz^n, steps will have to be Ukeu to t^uca'* ' boo differently.^ They consider tw< | tMcKS nece>s»ry. First, primary bduca- , fcion should lave an agricultural bias. Secoiid^ guidance and I* aiersbip should b- provided by the State. . -It w^ i^qumd . <v pr unary schools aud tboula be extenreH to (be -eKon^ary whiob persist it^ ronintHining an otdirtary grammar sohc < 1 C> urae not adopted to the present jie^ds, oi the Mapri jeuple. Tbe Commiwioner' al«o uHude to the tvih of alcoholism and Tibongaistu which require combatting In conclusion, they say the Arawas, Ny.apuhis and leading men of tbe Povett) Bay and Fat Coast have pressed tht Commission ,to visit them, and the Maotis in the North Wand generally an auxioua the Coa>missioners should hold >■ .detailed ci quiry into tbeir lands. The Cummisaioncrs are not yet in a position to make definite recommenditions as t< rating, tixUion, and reforms in Native I*and Court prooediire and administration.