NATIVE LANDS AND NATIVE-LAND TENURE: INTERIM REPORT OF NATIVE LAND COMMISSION, ON NATIVE LANDS IN THE WAIRARAPA DISTRICT.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1908 Session I, G-01r

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1908. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE LANDS AND NATIVE-LAND TENURE: INTERIM REPORT OF NATIVE LAND COMMISSION, ON NATIVE LANDS IN THE WAIRARAPA DISTRICT.

Presented to both Houses'of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Native Land Commission, Rotorua, Ist September, 1908. To His Excellency the Governor. May it please Your Excellency,— We have the honour to submit for your consideration an interim report on Native lands in the Wairarapa district. The Commission held a sitting at Masterton on the 25th and 26th July, 1908. We found that there was no considerable area of Native land unoccupied, the larger portions of the Native lands being under lease to Europeans. In the absence of a proper Domesday Book showing the disposition of Native lands, we were unable to ascertain the areas leased and the terms thereof. We hope, however, to be able to supply the necessary information and detail in a further report. We heard the Maoris, and ascertained from them their views as to the disposal of the remnants of lands still in their hands and unalienated. There appears to be very little actual farming among the Maoris in this district. Most of the younger people are working for Europeans, and the older ones are depending largely on rents for their livelihood. There was, however, a laudable desire manifested among many to begin farming on a proper basis ; and to assist them in their desire they have asked that the small remnant of lands left unalienated should be reserved to them for Maori occupation. These people not having been engaged in practical farming for themselves, they will require, in order to be successful, the guidance and instruction of experts. We would therefore again urge what has been already recommended in our previous reports, the necessity of appointing instructors for the several districts in which Maoris are farming. In a few districts the Maoris are capable farmers, and are not in such need of extraneous aid; but where they are experimenting it is absolutely necessary that such guidance should be afforded to them. Our recommendations are set out in accompanying schedules. European lessees have expressed a desire to either surrender their existing leases and obtain a fresh and longer lease at a rental of 5 per cent, on present valuation, or, failing that, to get a renewal for a further term on expiration of their existing lease. We are not at all in sympathy with either proposal, and we think it should only be permitted in very exceptional circumstances. Indeed, we doubt if it should ever be allowed without the express sanction of an Act of Parliament. The system of granting .leases to favoured Europeans without public competition is most unfair not only to the Maori successors, but to the general public. In our opinion there should be no leasing of Native land unless by public competition at auction, and there should be no leases save in possession.

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In this district, where the land is of such good quality, and favours the principles of closer settlement, no renewals of leases of any Native lands should be granted. If any land is open to lease it should be advertised, and the leasehold sold by public auction. There was brought before us an application for the removal of restrictions to enable a sale of a block of land called Mangatainoka X No. 2b No. 1, containing approximately 183 acres. The position is as follows : The matter was dealt with by the Ikaroa District Maori Land Board, and the Board recommended to His Excellency the Governor that the restrictions be removed provided that the purchasemoney be not less than the Government valuation. The matter was, so we understand, held over by the Government until the Native Land Commission had reported on the Native lands in the district. The Maori owners of the block, Erini Korou Nini and Ngawhiro Marakaia, appeared, and stated that they desired the contract for sale fulfilled, inasmuch as they were satisfied with the price, and as they had commenced farming operations on some of their other lands they wanted the money for the purpose of purchasing stock, &c. The contract having been entered into prior to the Commission, and the proper tribunal having recommended the removal of restrictions, and, according to the evidence before us, the price payable, £12 per acre, being in excess of the Government valuation of £11 per acre; also taking into consideration the fact that the land is under lease—of which we understand fifteen years are still to run—to the proposed purchaser, Mr. Hart Udy ; we recommend that the Ikaroa District Maori Land Board's recommendation be favourably considered by His Excellency the Governor in Council. We are, however, still of the opinion that no system save open competition for Native land should, unless in very exceptional circumstances, be recognised.: \ A number of applications for removal of restrictions and for consent to leases were brought before our notice ; but, as they are all matters in which the Maori Land Board have full jurisdiction, we do not think it proper to usurp its functions or in any way make a suggestion or recommendation as to how the applications should be dealt with. We have the honour to be Your Excellency's most humble and obedient servants, ROBERT STOUT, A. T. NGATA, Commissioners. SCHEDULES.

Lands Leased or under Negotiations.

Block. Area. Remarks. Matapihi No. 13 .. Manaia, Section 107, Nos. 2, 4, and 5 Mataikona, Nos. 2 and 3 (part) Mangatainoka K 2b 1 Okurupatu B 1 .. B2 B3 .. BJ4 (part) B 4 (part) Al .. A2 A3 i_ A. E. P. 940 0 0 131 3 7 8,912 2 12 183 0 0 50 0 0 567 0 0 296 0 0 930 0 0 1,197 0 0 443 0 0 232 0 0 1,702 0 0 15,584 1 19

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Lands recommended to be reserved for Maori Occupation under Part II of "The Native Land Settlement Act, 1907."

Approximate Cost of taper.— Preparation, not given ; pruning (1,500 copies), £1 12s. 6d.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9oB. Price 3d.]

Block. Area. Remarks. [ataikona Nos. 2 and 3 (part) [ikomiko, Section 47, or Waipoua .. [airiirikapua .. .. [akirikiri, Sections 1 and 2 3, 4, 5, and 6 .. „ 7, 8, and 9 .. „ 10 .. iiitainga 1 2b .. .. .. J •reore, Te, and all subdivisions •tahuao No. 3, N.R. •kurupatu A 1 .. B2 BlA.. A. R. P. 900 0 0 280 0 0 839 0 0 196 0 27 325 0 20 275 0 0 208 3 4 177 1 9 365 0 0 615 0 15 108 1 0 25 0 0 580 0 0 400 0 0 5,294 2 35 Unleased portions ; to be incorporated. Incorporate. To be leased to Erini Korou Nini. „ Ngawhiro Marakaia. „ Remeni|Witimitara. „ Hona Manihera. Kaingas. >> „ ; settlement. Incorporate for leasing to Maoris. Kaingas. Incorporate. r>