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1948 NEW ZEALAND

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON PETITION No. 51 OF 1947, OF TAUNATAPU RIMENE AND OTHERS, AND PETITION No. 70 OF 1947, OF NGAONE TE TEIRA AND OTHERS, PRAYING THAT THE WELLINGTON TENTHS BENEFIT FUND BE ABOLISHED

Presented to Parliament in pursuance of the Provisions of Section 55 of the Maori Purposes Act, 1947

Maori Land Court (Chief Judge's Office), P.O. Box 3006, Wellington C. 1, 17th June, 1948. Memorandum for the Right Hon. the Minister op Maori Appairs. Wellington Tenths Benefit Fund Pursuant to section 55 of the Maori Purposes Act, 1947, I transmit to you the report of the Court on the claims and allegations contained in petition No. 51 of 1947, of Taunatapu Rimene and others, and petition No. 70 of 1947, of Ngaone te Teira and others, praying that the Wellington Tenths Benefit Fund be abolished. The subject-matter of this petition is the Benefit Fund established from a portion of the revenue arising from certain Maori reserves known as the Wellington Tenths, which are vested in and administered by the Maori Trustee. The position with regard to the Fund and the purposes for which it may be applied are set out in the report by the Court. The Court does not recommend that the Fund be abolished, as sought by the petition, but it does recommend that the provisions as to the Fund be varied. I agree with the recommendations made by the Court, and recommend that they be given effect to by appropriate legislation amending the Maori Trustee Act, 1930. D. G. B. Morison, Chief Judge.

In the matter of the Wellington Tenths ; and in the matter of an application under section 55 of the Maori Purposes Act, 1947, for inquiry and report on petition No. 51 of 1947, of Taunatapu Rimene and others, and petition No. 70 of 1947, of Ngaone Te Teira and others, praying that the Wellington Tenths Benefit Fund be abolished, on reference by the Chief Judge. Report to the Chief Judge This matter came before the Court to-day, the 20th May, 1948, and I have the honour to report as follows : A number of the petitioners attended in person and they were represented by Mr. Love. No one was present to oppose, but Mr. Henshilwood, of the Maori Trustee's Office, attended for the purpose of supplying necessary particulars if called upon. No