A MAORI LANDLORD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1147, 7 June 1911, Page 6

A MAORI LANDLORD.

SUB-LESSEES' REQUEST.

Yesterday representatives of settlers- ia the Hamua Block, in tho Forty Mile Bush District, interviewed tho ActingPrimo Minister (tho Hon. J. Carroll) regarding their leases. Tho land is subfeascd in small areas. It. comprises, a to Mr. Youll for sawmilling purposes. Tho term of the lease is about to expire, and tho settlers desire that •sonio arrangement be made to enable them to get 'p. renewal from tho Native owners. . . Tho Minister stated that tho position was a difficult one. Thoro was no provision in tho law by which he could compel any owner to lease his laud. All that he could do was to regulate alienations. The Maoris hud not been the reapers of any advantages so far as tho leasing of the land was. concerned. It wits a pity that tho occupiers did not hold direct from the Maori owner, who, ho felt sure, would have met them.. Ho was now in failing health, and his con. dition was regarded as serious He (luo Minister) had precluded operations over the lands in order to prevent private, speculation taking it from them. But the chief had been pained at what, had been said of the Maoris-that they worn a bar to civilisation, and that they should not have any lands. 1 hose who esale statements had "touched up the feelings of tho old chief, as was quite natural: He was afraid he wou'd want to keen his land to show that his people were not lar.y, but industrious, especially on their own land. If tho settlers thought that they could make arrange, monts with the Natives and obtain a. fresh lease of their sections, at a fresh valuation, and on satisfactory terms, ho would remove the proclamation, and he would a.Ho point out to the chief the Atsirabilitv of keeping good tenants. Ho would sooner see Maori land loafed , than sold: thev must look after future, generations anil prevent them being deprived of a, means of livelihood, and the (..«•- eminent did not desire to burden their institutions at a later date with M,W4 paupers. At the same lime theXovornment urged the Natives to lease to I'.uroiieans on terms mutually advantageous and "to the benefit of lalirt settlement generally. '