MAORI LAND COMMISSION

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume VII, Issue 2002, 27 July 1907, Page 2

MAORI LAND COMMISSION

Chief Recommendations

Some Reforms Urged

By Telegraph.—l'resi Association.. Wellington, this day. • Tun principal recommendations of the Maori Lands Commision, whose report was brought down yesterday, arc:

That the purchaso of native land by tho Crown under the present .system should bo discontinued.

That alienation by direct negotiations between the owners and private indivuals should ho prohibited, and that furtlior alienations should be made only through tho Hoard, as agent for the on tiers, or in the case on lands vested in it, as registered owuers of such lauds. That Maori occupation and farming powers be given to tlio Board to regulate the use of these areas.

Tlmt Boards to havo spocial powers as tD timljDr, Jinx, minoruls, etc. That tlie Board may offer laud after ut rough survey indicating allotment, and mtcriul roads may be laid out and formed where absolutely necessary before sulci lion, the cost of the roading and survey to be loaded on the section. That the Boards ho constituted as at piesont, but we think that the presidents should bo drawn from men experienced in cutting up and letting lands, and should bo Government officials paid by the Government, travelling allowance to be charged on revenue from the land, each Board to havo a competent accountant a; clerk and receiver. That the Governor-in-Comicil may except lands from the operation of tho above proposals on the condition that the land so excepted bu sold or leased at aution. Exception may bo mado in favour of the owner who is considered able to manage his own affairs. That the jurisdiction of tho Native liantl Court should be limited as to land administered by the Board in the matter of partitions, hut not in regard to succession, testamentary disposition, ascertainment of owners or beneficiaries, and adjustment of disputed tribal boundaries. The Courts may partition on the application of tho Hoard.

That the law requires amendment to pcimit of exchanges on a large scale, so as to secure consolidation of individual and family holdings, So far, 520,977 acres in Hawke's (Jay, Wanganui, and the King Country have been investigated, and about 650,000 more to be attended to. Besides theso areas the Commissioners have been pressed to deal with others in North Auckland and on the East Coast and Poverty Bay. The Commissioners say that if the Maori is to become an industrious citizen steps will have to he taken to educate him. They have distinctly considered two things necessary—first, primary education should have an agricultural basis; second, guidance and leadership should be provided by the State. It is * required in the primary schools, and should be extended to secondary, which persist in maintaining the ordinary Grammar Ssliool course, not adopted to th j present needs of the Maori people. The Commissioners also alludo to the ovils of alcoholism and tohungaism, which requires combatting. In conclusion they say the Arawas, Ngapnhis and leading men of Poverty Hay and the East Coast have pressed the Commission to visit them, and the Maoris in tho North generally are anxious the Commissioners should hold a detailed inquiry into their lands, The Commissioners state, that they are lift yet in a position to make dennito recomei'idatioiis' on the questions of rating, taxation, and reform of the Native bud Court and procecdiire.