MAORI LAND BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1905, 15 October 1906, Page 3

MAORI LAND BILL.

Section Sof last yea’s Ac', which pvc soribes tho powers of the Nadya Miniate in rrgard to the resting of native inn Is i tho Boards for tho purposes of soiil ar ut has boen nmcndol by making it appl eibl to all Maori laid wherever situated, >n stead of applying only io tho Tuir-wh-t (East Coast) and Tokarau (North of Auek land) Maori Land Districts. This powoi applies to all native lands which in the opinion of the Minister are not required, or are not suilablo for eccupati-n by native owners, Tho previsions oi last yoat’s Aot in regard to tne classific ition of surplus lands (ifter the miking of the neerssary ro?erva*ions for tbo requirements of native owner?) remain unnlierod, with tho exception of the difleiiion of fourth c'ass land. The rrsptcnvo classifications under tho uow B 11 are ai follows: First class, comprising agrion'taral, and ssoond class comprising mixed agricultural and psgtoral land ; third class, comprising pastoral land that o in be profitably worked iu areas of five thousand acres cr less, and Lurth class that cannot bo profitably woiksd in areas of five thousand tores or loss, instead of " fifteen thousand aoresorless” as provided in tbo enactment of last year, LIMITATION OF ALLOTMENTS.

Paragraph E of eeolion 8 of last year’s Aot dealing with Ifao subdivision of laods into allotments, is repealed, Now instead of a limitation of area befog fixed for allotments in regard to the respective olasses it is provided that they shall not exceed an unimproved value of £50,000 on She Government valuation, TERM OF LEASES, The term of the leasos i 3 e-x eDdad from 50 to 66 years, Ihu3 b:ioging tbo measure into oonsonaDoe with the Government's proposals in regard to Crown lands, Scotion 7 provides that " notwithstanding any proposition, restriction, oondiiion or limitation rr girding the disposal of land owned by Maoris (other than Papatupu land), suoh land may ba disposed of by way of lease, subj aot to the p-ovisions of this Aot. BOARD’S APPROVAL OF LEASES.

Section 16 of last year’s Aot, relating ti the terms under whiob leases may be ap proved by tbe Board, is repealed and tbs following provisions are now s’.ipulatsd(l.) that tbe lease is for the benefit of the Maori lessors; (II.) that oaoh M-ioii alienating has a papskainga or sufficient other land for tbe purposes of a papakainga or (with tbe rent payable under such lease) an income suffioieut for his support; (III) that it takes efifeot io possession and not in reversion ; (IV.) that it was not sigoed by tbe lessors in consideration of any sum of moipy pa’d to them by way of premium or forfeit, provided that tbo amount paid by ihe lessee for improvements on the land is not deemed a premium or for a gift ; (V.) that the reDt is not less than five per cent on the amount of tbe Government valuation of the lands; (VI) by statutory deceleration of the lessee that he is acquiring the laud /or himself and not for any other person, and that he is not the owner, ten ant, or oooitpisr of any laud tbo unimproved value cf which, together with the portion of the land proposed to bs leased, is more than five thousand pounds, The Board is given power at its discretion to refuse to approve the granting or transfer of BDy lease. In such ease the parsons interested are to tiave the power of appeal to the Native Appellate Court, wbo33 dooision shall be final. NOXIOCS WEEDS. The Native Minister is given power to take control of any land owned by a Maori which in the Minister’s opinion has rot been properly cleansed of noxious weeds, ond such lands shall be deemed to bn 'lands not required or not suitable for oooupation by the Maori owners.” LANDS NOT PROFITABLY OCCUPIED. Section 13 provides that any Maori lard or other laDd owned by Maoris whiob in the opinion of tho Native Minister is not properly occupied by the Maori owners, bat is suitable for Maori settlement, may bo dealt with uuder tho provisions of tbe Bill, bui in respect to suoh land the leases shall be made only to Maoris, aodno suoh land shall be sub-let or aseigned to other than a Maori without the consent of the Board and the Minister, AN IMPORTANT PROVISION. Clause 14 gives power to determine interests in lands leased under last year’s Aot when necessary for tbo purposes of aoililating settlement.

AMENDMENTS OF LAST YEAR’S ACT. SUMMARY OF THE MEASURE. Special to the Times. Woffington, last night. The Macri Laudi Settlement Aot Amendment Bill wb’ch was introduced by Governor’s mossrge has been oiriuilatod, Tho Bill, wbiob, bin last yotr's measure, has been delayed in its appear anco until noar tho end cf the session, oontains a number of amendments of tho existiDg Aot. MAORI LAND BOARDS. Tho number of members nf each Maori Land Beard is increased from three to four. Too quorum at nil mootings of tho Board shall bo three rartubers, of whom at loist one shall bo a Maori member. VESTING OF LANDS IN TBE BOA BDS.