NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 610, 13 September 1909, Page 11

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

. • UNION PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE. ■ At:'to-morrow. evening's; session of the Union Parliament, Mr. M. U. G. AJ'Caul (Minister for'Liinds and -Native Affairs) will move: ■■ .* ;:'ihat; in' tho opinion of this House, ' the adoption.-, of a -Nativo - affairs and Native lands policy-combining' the. following features - would Ue-ittHhe'best interests of the Dominion:— -' f (l)- : The granting to. the Maoris of, full elec-tofal-'and other-rights (isith. the exception of thsiright to sell their lands.to otheri than tho Goi(i'rnment)i."and. the- requiring- of; them to :be^r', full responsibilities as citizcns of; tho Dohiinibn. ' ' ' ; " "N B —Tho more striking of the reforms that the -'Above clause iMU-'introduce- are—(a) - Aboli--tioiil/.bf-',the:,prfisent,system of representation- inVPajliatHeht; (b).; by ■thsl'Maoriff'of/raies.'an'ttstaxes ;'i (o) the:appli-. cdtiohi of the .-present laws; governing; pakeha lands to the .Maori; lands, and- the consequeiitpreve|ition of ,i future rcoggregation... of Maori lands. '- : ... r.. '"(2) The land: reserved under' Sohedule No; 2 to'iibe. surveyed, : v roaded;. and .divided, amongst ■ the.'Maories, each male-Maori of 'the age' of fifteen; years and .over to bb given a titlo to Bttffibieht--land to" enable him, by.'farming it, to ..copifortably support himself,'.' a&d'\those, de-. pcnaent,', ; and : .likely;[to 'becojne. dependent upon

;"(3) Tho purchase/fromthe. Maories. ibjr .ftp: Goytfrimentof .thfcSvh<jlo;'qf...tho land described . in .(Bchfediilff' :N0,,; 1, ..ari'dvsuch ■ other,... Native .lands';as 'jthe,-,Government, niay.-; from.time .to ; timiS'Coilsider.,.advisable. ' Thoi,value, to' be dearbitration...: Payment to ,bo made by, Vin'eaßs;/bf'-.Oi a' chrrch'cy .'of "t)v6nty-live ytfar's,'.; or cash,' or' . partlj' .in stock and partly Win-cash, at tho optib'n':pf,'tho':Qovernment.' ; ~ i'.:' ,TWt; all .lauds'purcbased by,the Governi . meht.from the:;Mao.ne3 be'offafed to the publio: . undervtho'rehewable'lease,- with as little delay :as '.jW'ssiblo after.they. :; becorae available.. . ' : '"(5).(a) ; ;-That"r'suoh -* of.-,the '.-unsettled '-lands V purchased from the'. Maories .as aro suitable . fbr.Sot.tlement be'survoyed, roaded; and thrown • om'ifdr/istleotioii'.at earliest possible'date; (b) , rights over the. timber, areas be oto'rtd:'to millers immediately, access is provid6d;'(c) that -tho- lands . suitable for' re-* •' afforestation' be' planted / with <Douglas fir, or other;;; suitable timbers'; '(d) that tho mining v areaSthrown open-to..prospectors! '; '.(6) That a .board- of .trustees for'-tho Maori y. raco 'be set' up. ;Such board ,to consist of: tho Minister for the timo being for Native 'Affairs, . who jshall. act as chairman, and sis other members,'three "of them to bo.,' elected .' by' the Maories; „ and;,three to ,-.be -■ appoint«d>by the. Goveriimont. •', ■ •'" v"- ■' '■;

' ; inscribed- Stock or cash .paid .by-itbe Government for Maori lands ■ purchased under this'. intasure to be handed over..to the board of; trustees provided. for .in''Clause.(6).hereof: tho.trustees to make use of the funds at their dispbSal -fori 'the" ; providihg >of. instructors to teacbv.the Maories how to farm their. lands, an'd'iiusuoh "other, manner as will-bo of. most benefit to the race.' "(8) The first twelve months', rent' or iand tax to j bo; remitted ion. ;all .. newly-settled Native lands,- ..... \ . ■, ■ '"(9) In tho event, of a'Native at any, time becoming dissatisfied 'with'his.' holding,' and defcirinE,' t° sell the same and purchase other lands,-the board of.trnstecs'mav, r at its discre-, tion,-.'.purchase his .-selection 'from him 'on behalf, of ;th6:Govorriment at. ii price to- be set"c,d 'by. arbitration.and iuvest tho prAceeds in 6ucb..bthet land'as.tho applicant'desires." ' I It: is understood that the Hon; A. T. Ngata .rind others interested "are to be present.