WEST COAST RESERVES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1918, 28 November 1913, Page 10

WEST COAST RESERVES.

NEAY PROPOSALS. The West Coast Settlement I'esorvos 'Amendment Bill, which was introduced iu tho House of Representatives, and discussed at considerable length, applies to an area of 18,300 acres of land in Tnran::ki, owned by Maoris' and leased on their behalf by the Public Trustee. The preamble mentions that many of the Native owner;; are desirous of themselves occupying and farming their lands. It is proposed that tho present lessees shall have a right to renew their leases for a further term of ten years, and lliafc at the. expiration of that period the leases shall be determined, compensation for iinnrovements being paid to tho outgoing lessees. The rental to be paid upon the- renewed leases is to be assessed at the rate nf four and a half per cent, upon the difference between the eanital value and an amount to be deducted on account of improvements, the latter sum not to exceed £o per acre. The rent is to be reduced to £) per cent, if paid not later than fuiirteen duvs after tin* due date. The laud is to bo valued for rental purnos:'S by, three valuers,.one appointed by the lessees, and another by, or on behalf of, the Natives, while the third is to be an officer of the Valuation Department, appointed by the Valuer-General. The renlais of land leased for a further Icrin of ten years under the Hill are to be collected hv the Public Trustee, who rs to deduct live per cent, for expenses of administration. One-third of I lie remaining amount is lo }><• paid to the Native owners, and the remaining two-thirds are lo be in id into fb<> Common Fund of the I'illilic'Trust Office, and j.o accumulate there, with interest, for the purpose of paving compensation lo the lessees on the expiration of the nonleases.