G.—lb

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.