NATIVE LANDS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1833, 21 August 1913, Page 11

NATIVE LANDS.

THE AGGREGATION PROBLEM. A brief arose in tho Hou;9 /of Representatives ycstcrdny upon a question relating to Native lands which was addressed to the Hon. W. H. Herries by Mr. G. Hunter. Mr. Hunter mentioned a. report that speculators were negotiating with the Native owners for the purchase of small blocks in the Tikokino district. Ho asked that, if tho report were correct, steps should be taken to protect the Nativo owners. Tho Minister replied that inquiries wero being made. Tho Government was anxious to prevent aggregation and and in the preparation of tho new Nativo Land Bill these questions were receiving his earnest attention. Mr. W. D. S. Mac Donald expressed the opinion that a cJauee inserted in the Native Land Act last year favoured aggregation by enabling the .owner of a freehold fo take the transfer of a Native lease. The actual intention of the Nativo Affairs Committee when the clause was before it, he added, was to mako aggregation difficult. Tire Native Minister said that tho clause to which reference had been made was substantially tho same as one previously contained in tho Native Land Act. A preamble had been dropped fi)om the clauso, but he <tid not think that this had made any difference. He knew that some legal gemtlemen in Gisborne hold a contrary opinion. Certainly the alteration had not had the effect suggested by the member for'the Bay of Plenty. The problem of preventinf; dummyism and ag,rreisfation of. Native lands was on", of the nV~.t difficult the Governmont. lied to deal with because tho more restrictions are put npin the acquisition of Native lands tho, less money tiro Native got for, his land. To introduce a residence clause, for instance, wlcaild reduce the price to bo received by the Native. He hoped wliio.n ho brought down his Bill t/y do something, to mitigate those features of the prorer.it isyi-.teni which afforded an opening to speculator.'. Mr. Young: Put in an improvement clause.

Mr. Herries: That, cnua'.ly n<ould affect the Native and limit his marM.

Mr. Toun.g said that No five lands should be oponed to the bona-fido settlor, and nrt to the .soeouJatcT.

Mr. Herries said th.iit one advantage obtained from the speculator was -that lie hid to road t.lie land, after cutting it up, before he could disTwo of it. Ho wis n?t, however, advocating the cause of the speculator.