NATIVE LAND LAWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1569, 12 October 1912, Page 6

NATIVE LAND LAWS.

SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES. EUROPEANISTNG OF MAORIS. Though it deals principally with the machinery of the existing law, the Nativo Lam! Amendment Bill introduced )>y the Hon. V. H. Hcrries contains some important proposals. Tho repeal is proposed of Section 50 of the 1909 Act, by which the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court is allowed to review any judgment of , the Native Land Court, and recommend the Governor by Order-in-Council to grant a rehearing. There is.a proviso that this repeal is not uj stop any proceedings already in .progress under tho section in question. A recent judgment by the Chief Justice practically cohdonmed the mode of purchaso of Native lands by precedent consent. It is proposed to repeal the. portion of tho Act wliich provides for this method, and to confine tho purchase of Nativo land by Europeans to the method of assembled owners only. Power is given to meetings of assembled owners when deciding on tho manner in which their land shall be disposed of, to vote on a proposal to empower tho Xlaori Land Board to sell it by public auction. Machinery is provided for carrying into effect a resolution in favour of that method. Entirely new legislation is proposed providing that if a Native, nnder certain conditions, applies to the Native Laud Court, it may recommend the Governor by Order-in-Council to declare him a European. A Native applying for this privilege must be acquainted with the English language, nnd possessed of educational qualifications equal to the Fourth Standard, and must possess sufficient land or income for his maintenance, or must be able by some special profession, trade, or calling, to earn an adequate maintenance. On tho making of such an Order-in-Council tho Native mil be in all respects a European, though his legal rights as a Maori will bo prevrved to him. This privilege will not be extended to his wifo or children, unless individual applications aro made in their cases. An annual statement of all such Orders-in-Council is to be made to Parliament, and none of them can at any time be revoked.

Power is to be given to the Native Minister to revoke Orders-in-Council vesting land in Maori Land Boards, and revesting it in the. Native owners.