NATIVE LAND BILL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 323, 9 October 1908, Page 3

NATIVE LAND BILL.

SELECT COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS. IMPORTANT CHANGES. Tho Native Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives has made important alterations to tho Maori Land Laws Amendment Bill. Clause 6, which,provides that future alienations of Native land in tho North Island are to be confirmed by tho Maori Land Boards, instead of by tho Native Land Court, has received an addition providing for a continuance of the present right of appeal. FARMS FOR MAORIS. Section 7 of the Thermal Springs District Act, 1908, is amended by empowering the Governor to set apart land as a farm for the benefit of the. Natives, and prescribe the mode of administration. Tho Governor may also, on tho application of . the Native owners of any land proclaimed under the. said Act, authorise them to lease it if the application is approved by the Maori.Land Board, and if the provisions of the Maori Lands Administration Act", 1900,. are complied with. . ' THE COMMISSION. Another new clause enables the Governor to vary, amend, or revoke at any time an Ordor-in-Council, under the Act of last year, prohibiting temporarily all privato alienation of any area of Native land specified by the Native Land Commission. In order to facilitate the operations following oh tho work of the Native Land Commission, tho Bill as introduced provided for the issue of an Order-in-Council_ varying tho division of any blocks dealt with into two equal portions, for sale and leasing, as required by the' Act of last year. The committee has inserted a provision directing the board to so adjust matters that the land disposed of in any one year shall be divided as nearly as possible in the above manner. THE UREWERA COUNTRY. The appointment of committees in* the Urewera District is validated and provision is made for the setting up of ; .a General Committee to exercise the-.powers; liitlierto vested in Commissioners. Section 8 of the .-Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905 (providing for 50year leases), is to apply to land in tho Urewera district. The power of the Chief Judge to amend a decision of the Native Land Court after ascertainment of title is proposed to be extended subject to certain conditions to decisions, and orders heretofore or hereafter made by the Native Appellate Court. FLAX AND TIMBER. The maximum period of flax and timber licenses granted by Maori Land Boards is to be extended f.om 21 to 30 years. The time for making application for limited alienation of timber, flax, etc., under Section 26 of lasi year's "Washing-up Bill," is further extended to six months from tho passing of this Act and prevision is made for rehearing of,claims. COST OF SURVEY. A new clause provides that the survey of papatiipu lands may be paid for out of moneys'appropriated for the purpose by Parliament, and registered as a-charge against the land. ' ' Another new, clause enables the Native Land Court' to. make,' orders for .the exchange of land between Natives.' " NATIVE TOWNSHIPS. - ' . ,It is provided that when a Native township that is subject'to the' Native Townships Local Government Act, 1905, - becomes -included within a: borough or town district, that Act shall ceaso to apply within such township. Section 19 of tho Native Land Purchase Act, 1892 (which gives tho Governor power to sell Crown lands to Natives and to impose restrictions thereon), is amended.by tho addition of the words; "for' the purposes of this scctioii undivided interests acquired by the Crown in Native land shall be deemed to be Crown land." TONGARIRO TIMBER COMPANY, Clause 30, a lengthy clause added by tho committee, gives power to the Maori Land Board of tho district to make an agreement with the Tongariro Timber Company respecting certain areas of timber land in the Taupo West County. WELLINGTON MATTERS. Two more "washing-up" clauses empower the Wellington Education Board to acquiro a site for a school in the township of Parata, and cancels the vesting by the Crown of Wellington town acres 89 and 90 (on which public school and defence buildings have been erected) in tho Public Trustee. _ _ / New clause-:33' empowers' Airini- -Tonore (Mrs. Donnelly) -arid other' Natives to'sell.'or lease by public auction their interests in the subdivisions 'of the Waiinarama, W aipuka, and Okaihau blocks.