NATIVE LANDS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1454, 31 May 1912, Page 6

NATIVE LANDS.

NOT AN EASY PROBLEM. TRANSACTIONS AND ALIENATIONS. The settlement of our Native lands is proceeding at a more satisfactory rate than many aro inclined to credit. Tho problem has not been easy of solution, but. the way is now fairly clear for success to attend our efforts. Since the passing of the Maori Land Administration Act of 1900 there havo been urgent demands made by Europeans for the moro speedy opening up and settlement of Native lauds. To give effect to this demand, whilo at tho sa.mo time safeguarding the rights of the Native owners has been the aim of tho Native land legislation of tho last ten years, and generally speaking, the progress made must be considered satisfactory. It is claimed that tlie younger portion of the Maori race is endcavoiirinp: to get into touch with and stand in a similar position to their European brethren. If that be so, then it becomes necessary for a great deal of caution to be exercised in disposing of all the Nativo lands. The lands for Maori occupation aro being definitely allocated, and tho surplus is being thrown open for settlement by Europeans as fast as present conditions will allow. In this connection the transactions and alienations of Native land during tho year ended March 31 last will show tho very great progress that lias been. made. The alienations have been as follows:— Acres. Lands dealt with by way of leaso 336,000 Lands dealt with by way of sale 219,557 Lands purchased by the Crown ... 91,7-11 Total 017,631 Probably 30,000 acres will havo to be added to this total, being purchases by tho Crown Lands Department, thus bringing tho total area of Nativo lands alienated during the year to approximately G75.000 acres. Taking the past two years, there has been a settlement of almost 1,000,000 acres, and when the old purchases iu hand prior to the Native Land Act, 1909, coming into operation, which have been carried out by tho Lands Department, it is expected the total will be over 1,025,000 acres for the period named. Since the passing of tho Native Land Act, 1909, the Native Department has certainly shown itself to bo alivo in attending to dealings which have come liefore it. When one recognises tlio fact that olinost four times the amount of alienations have taken place during the past twelve months, as against the previous twenty years' average, and with tho surveys now nearing completion, it may be fully anticipated that alienations will proceed apace during the current year. Owing to the difficulties following tho settlement of the blocks of Papa-tnnu ' customary) lands by litigious applicant.', which often means that before the titles can lie completed they are held up for a considerable period owing to appeals, it may be necessary to consider whether these lands should not lie vested iu flie District Maori Land Boards in flic rc--pcctivo districts, so that they can proceed lo place certain areas of the blocks oil Ilie market for general settlement, at the same time making reservation sufficient for the assumed owners who may go into the title. How to Simplify Transactions. The Native Land Department has been much more alive during the past twelve months than it has received crcilit for cr our opponents will admit. Kut: (here is still an unsatisfied demand for lands, and large areas of surplus Native land remain unoccupied. These should be put. into profitable occupation as speedily as possible, and it therefore becomes necessary to consider the question as to how fin's can be best facilitated. During tho short period that we have been in oflice, my colleague, the Native Minister, has hceii endeavouring Vo get. a grip of the whole position, lie has specially been considering how improvements can be made to simplify transaction.? in alienation from Ilie Native lo (he European settler. The Government is of opinion thai tlio surplus Native lands can be dealt with more on the lines of the Crown lauds of this Dominion thnn is the case under existing condition?. There appears to be no reason why "papatupu" (or customary) blocks cf land, which the Natives are desirous of disposing of either by sale or lease, should not be taken overr at once and dealt with iu the same way as Crown lands, either bv side or by lease. Tho Native owners could gu on to the N'ative l.and Court delining their interest, but in the meantime the laud would go into occupation, and they would be receiving reals from it. To my mind, ilie presenl condition of dealing in large blocks of Native land, without making provision for surveys and reading, is not in tho bes| jntere-t.s of settlement. and if it i-- agreed hv "Nafivp owner; to dispo--° of a b! ni 'k either br sale or lease, then the lands should pa

loaded willi a sufficient amount l<> give pro|)i'r road across. In justice to llio .Maori, ivi! jjilll. onn.-.ider giving him assistance in il<*volopius "ml fanning his lands, si) as Ui all'ori! liim an sip<Miriiinily -ul' farming his mvn lands. It is ab-olute-l.v cssonlial that l!i« Native should not bo allowed to become landless, anil later jii-oli-alilv a char ire upun I lie Stale; 'nut siili all la.inls mil roquirol for liis occupation should beavailablo for sofliomciit at once. J ii tin- event of the Crown Ia1;i nLf i> vor (lie administration of Xalivo blocks on behalf of the Xalivo owners, we may require a more ellicieul start than tiie prescni ljoai'ils, in order lo get. such land placed rapidly upon (lie market. It will also lie essential to get it eni; up ami subdivided su as li> üblain the best, results fur the owners. To enable this lu be done, and done speedily, it may be necessary lo add to the present stall's of (lie boards' surveyors and valuers. I am also of opinion thai boiui-fide dealing by settlers with Hie Natives for small .'irons for close settlement would be in the interests of both European am! Xative alike, that is if duly safeguarded. The Crown has already beeii administering Native lands through ilia I'ublic Trustee, namely, the West Coast Settlement Reserves, and we are now awailin.tr the report of the I'oyai Commission tint has been set, up lo inquive into the position with regard to the<o leases before forming an opinion as to 'be advisability of au authority nailer the Crown managing Xative lands for the benefit; of the X'ative owners and Iho satisfaction of the settlers. Tf the Law! Courts maintain the same rate of progress t hat has prevailed (luring the last Iwo years, the ureal, bulk of the work will be completed in about three years from uoiv.