25

1.-3 a

(b.) When owned by more than twenty owners a Committee to be elected, who shall transfer land to Council, and such transfer to take effect if no protest be lodged within one month. Council to deal with land as directed in deed of conveyance or memoranda attached to transfer. Lands dealt with under this Act not to be liable to Native duty.

MR. WI PERE'S PROPOSALS FOR THE NATIVE LAND ADMINISTRATION BILL. Precis of an Act for the Purpose of absolutely stopping the Alienation by Way of Sale of Maori Lands in New Zealand. 1. The sale of Maori lands in New Zealand to be absolutely stopped for ever in commemoration of the fifty-ninth year of Her Most Gracious Majesty's Government of New Zealand, and in memory of the length of time she has sat on the throne of her ancestors. 2. A Board to be constituted to manage and administer all Maori lands which may from time to time be placed by the owners thereof with such Board, and also for the management of Maori lands which may be encumbered and burdened in various ways prior to the passing of this Act. 3. The Board to have power to administer lands which are under the operation of various Acts, such as the Thermal Springs Act and suchlike Acts, and also all Maori lands within the Eastern Maori Electoral District now held in trust. 4. The Board and landowners shall appoint Block Committees, and such Block Committees shall, on being so directed by the owners of the land (for which such Block Committee was appointed) place the said land under the administration of the Board. 5. The Board shall appoint five local committees for the Eastern Maori Electoral District, which shall have power to investigate titles and define the relative interests in the various blocks of Maori lands, including papatupu lands, and shall have power to decide all matters therein as they shall deem just, and shall report on all the various matters submitted to them to the Board, whose decision on all such matters shall be final. The Governor in Council shall confirm such decision. 6. The Board to have power to advance money on loan to the landowners for the purpose of working the lands reserved by them as farm-holdings, on the Board being satisfied that such owner or owners will be able to repay the said principal sum, and interest thereon. 7. The Board shall not lease any Maori land which may be placed under its administration for a longer term than forty-two years. 8. On the expiration of the lease of any land the Board shall call a meeting of the owners of such land to decide, — (1.) Whether the said land should be again leased ; (2.) Whether a portion only of the said land should be again leased; (3.) Whether the said land should be subdivided into smaller holdings; or, (4.) Whether a portion or the whole of the said land should be reserved for farms for the owners thereof. 9. At the expiration of the term of any lease of any land the lessee thereof is not to have the power to demand payment for the improvements made by him or her on the said land. 4—l. 3a.