NATIVE CLAIMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 13

NATIVE CLAIMS.

. AN .IMPORTANT BIIX. commission's recommendations, *.;'■,>; - —-■ • . ■ . (By Telegrapn.~-Parltainentary Seporter.) .. • . '■/$. ' WELLINGTON, Friday. There are some important general clauses in ; the annual ' Native Land Adjustment Bill.. - '. ' One clause ' empowers a , Maori Land Board, with the consent of v the majority of the native owners of an incorporated interest, to .cultivate tho area for the general benefit, appointing the necessary employees and' purchasing stodk _ and implements. • The board may distribute the receipts among the persons entitled thereto'or place them to a reserve fund. It will also have power to borrow money on the security qf the area, With.the consent of tho Native Minister.. No person except a'native beneficiary shall, except by order of tho Court,' acquire. any interest in'these in the assets of v the trust, nor shall, the - beneficial interest of. any' native. in these trust assets be' liable to attachment, in case of the native's bankruptcy. *• . -AIL or any of the recommendations of the" Royal Coinmis'sion ;or Inquiry into complaints regarding the confiscation of native lands may,' according to another clause, bo given effect to, either, wholly orin modified form, as is considered just or expedient, but any payment, whether periodically or otherwise under the terms of the report, shall only be on - the authority of Parliament. 'Powers of Boards..^Tho , -Native Minister is authorised, to set up one- or more boards to carry put the terms of the recommendations, the constitution to:lie defined, by Order-in-Couricil. • The boards will have power to borrow on the security of native land or on the security of a charge. upon any moneys to be paid to fjhem by the Crown. Preliminary-expenses will be paid from a .Parliamentary- appropriation, and. repaid from' the .revenues of the boarde.' Their pgwers are thus defined: : "A board may buy-and sell property, erect and maintain buildings, may., farm.or otherwise administer lands owned by it, may lend money to natives and others, may deposit money with any State lending authority, may act as guarantor for natives or their descendants, and generally may do all acts that a corporate body, may do." " .-,>"'.' .' ; ' : '

• The bill contains .power to deal with the claims' of the' South'lsland Maoris which were investigated some years ago.