Maori Land Not Subject To Land Sales

Chronicle (Levin), 12 June 1948, Page 6

Maori Land Not Subject To Land Sales

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'• •/'v' l" WELLINGTON; -June ;TU ' ' "Tt ik!' anontalous that by; the"* 'aCCidenkof tlre colojlr of vendpr^-MhOi'i'.or p'alteEa — one* mah can bny land 'f)>r £l£0.: to, £195' while on t.h'e^ Other "side Of* the fPad projjably "betteil land is db-: v'alu,ed on an average of froin £o0 . to fiOO'and up to £120," said Mr H. Taylor, in the Land Saies Court, Wellington, vesterday. The Court was hearing an appeai vigainst the decision of the Land Saies Conunittoe on the prich of land in the Waikanae riverside district, sold by J II, Mason. Judge Arciier, with Mr W. Stewart, heard the appbcation. Mr^.W. J. Beveridge appeared for tlie Crown. ]V[r Taylor, appearing for A[ason, saiu that the vendor's valuer had valued the sub-di vision concerned at an average of £18(5 a section. The , Crown valu ;or had. valued it at, £95 a section, while the connnittee 's= decision had been £120. Saies of native land belonging to the Parata estate further along Moana Road did not cotne within the Court 's juffsdiction. Prices for sections in Mason 's sub-di vision were lo per cent to 20 per cent.. lower tlian those. realised on the Parata sale. The Parata sale prices had been appr.oved by tho MaQ.ri Land Court. The land was not oqual to that of the present v^endor The Maori Land Court, he said, shoulil be guided by the pi'inciples of tho Land Saies Court. "I niake no eomineut on the politica) angle of tliis matter, " said Mr 'Taylor, "but because purchasers were able to tniy land from the Parata estate at £190 or £195, that must be au indieation of the normal value of comparable land. ' ' Judge Arciier rulcd tha{ evidence vonccrning thd Parata estate did not applv and was therefore inadniissible, It was beyond the jurisdiction of the Court and a mitter for Parliament. Decision on the appeai was reservcd.