NATIVE LAND LAWS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13336, 30 January 1909, Page 5

NATIVE LAND LAWS.

WANGANUI DISSATISFACTION. (press association telegram.) WANGANUI, January -9Strong remarks wore made at the Chamber of Commerce this morning concerning tho native land laws and nativo land administration generally. Application had been made for the appointment of tho Resident Judge of tho Native Land Court at Wanganui, and for moro frequent sittings of the Court-, but this was refused by the Chief Justice, who said Wanganui was already treated the same as other places, and ho had only a limited staff. One speaker said there were already twelve Judges, who were tumbling over ono another. The Mayor said the trouble was due to the fact that tho whole of the native laws were in such a state of chaos that no one understood them, and tho system of dealing with native lands reeked with corruption. Until the whole system was cleaned out from the bottom thoy would never do any good. Mr J. T. Hogan, M.P., said that every member of th© Houso knew how native matters had been drifting, for which Parliament was to blame. Very few of tho South Island members took any interest in native matters, which were left to six or ten members of the North Island to deal with. Until the weight of Parliament was centred on native legislation, nothing effective would bo done. He believed the Premier would make a change before long, and referred to the work of consolidating tho native laws now going on. It was resolved to interview the Native Minister, and invite co-opera-tion of othor Chambers of Commerce with a view to getting resident Judges and regular sittings of the Court fixed, as in the Supreme Court.