MAORI BATTLE FOR RIGHT TO RIVER BED

Chronicle (Levin), 6 February 1947, Page 2

MAORI BATTLE FOR RIGHT TO RIVER BED

j Oue of the oldest disputes betiveeii Maori tribes will be settled early tliis ui'Onth when the Native Land Court, ■ under the presidency of Judge R. P. ! Dvkos; sits at" Wanganui, lt will be i the ditticult task of the court to in- j i vestigate title rights and decide thet : ownership of the bed of the Wanganui ; liiver. ^ j The claim was made by the Maoris to the land some years ago and it was subsequently decided by the Court that the river bed was "customary land'' { as defiued in the Treaty of Waitangi, and tlierefore Maori property. There still reuiains the question of deciding which areas belong to the many' dilferent tribes whose land borders on the river. Many tribes eager for the fishing rights are understood to have lodged claims. The hearing is expected by autliorities in the Ring Country to be one of-the longest and most involved ever lieard before the Native Land Court. Centuries of Maori history and tribal- oceupation will have to be considered when making decisions, and it is believed the case may take inonths to complete. The Native Land Court will begiti j its sitting at Wanganui on Pebruary 11, ' but it is not known when the Wanganui River case will be lieard. i