NATIVE WAND ADMINISTRATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 942, 8 October 1910, Page 10

NATIVE WAND ADMINISTRATION.

Sir,—The treatment dealt to the.Native race by the legislation of this Government is well exemplified by the following case:— . " y .'..:■■ Close to the town of Dannovirkfl is b large area'of Native land known as "Tahoraitc." Tho land, as to one block, is divided into nine allotments, ranging in-area from-83 to 869 acres, as to the other, containing 5924 acres, it is not so divided. In the Government Gazette of the 22nd instant appears an Order-in-Council reciting that by tho ndvico of tho Native Land Purchase Board tho alienation of every part of the land is absolutely prohibited .until September 10, 1011.- The whole-is under lease to the Messrs. Knight Bros., and their interest will expire in December of the present year. Now, it is probable that the Government has_ in the. past: entered into negotiation with some of the owners- for .-.the. purchase of part of the land, but there i can be no meed for the order prohibiting 1

dealing with'the land to protect tho Crown in such case, as tho Native Land Court has always had, and still has, ample power to cut oilt the interest of any Native having so dealt, and thus tho Crown could acquire title to the purchases, if any. As the matter stands now, scores of Natives who have had no dealing with the Crown find thoir land hampered with the order. They cannot sell or lease their own land, and with the result that when the Messrs. Knjght go out of occupation it. must perforce, be idle, unstocked, and deteriorating in value-.until September 10,i9i1. iVleantime the oM abhorrent practice of shutting out any competition m price from outsiders will be con-' tinued,. and those of the Natives who are impecunious will take what' tho gods,give them. If the general body; are wiso they will not sell an acre to tho'Crown..' ..■;

It does not savour of just and equity able dealing that somo 9396 acres of land belonging to the Maori people, said td be- worth -£18- ! an acre—£l69,l2B— should be thus dealt'with without the owners being in any way first consulted,' Of .course, .the. steps taken are within tlie' powers conferred Tiy Part XIX of the Native Land Act, 1909 j but wria't can be. said of such legislation enacted against'the am, .etc., ""-" ■'-''•■' vX-RAYS;.-';