Page 1 Advertisements Column 5

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1999, 7 February 1907, Page 1

groat importance and difficulty of tlio duties upon your Honor nml your collonguo. Wo recognise that tins attainment of the objects of tiiis scliomo for solving a groat problem depends far more upon the knowledge, the judgment, and the industry of the Commission, than upon the scliomo itself, ft is perceived that a long, arduous, and intricate task lies before you, and I am instructed to say that the Government will promptly afford tho fullest assistance tlio Native Department, or any other Department of the Government service can render. Having in view the personnel of the Commission, it lias not been doomed necessary at. present to appoint more than two Commissioners. Your Honor considered it desirable that an active counsel of gtotl standing should be ongaged to represent the native interests before the Commission, and upon your intimating this to tile Government, Mr. Skorrett was appointed for that purpose. Ho, however, asked that lie should have the assistance of some one especially familiar with native customs, institutions and requirements, and Mr. A. L. D. Fraser lias accordingly been appointed to givo Mr. Skorrett the help be may require. It is not considered necessary for the Crown to lie icpresonted, but should tlio Commission, at any time of its enquiries, or in connection with any special matter, desire the Crown to be represented, I shall be glad to anoear, or instruct other counsel for the Crown to appear. The Native Minister, the Hon. Mr. Carroll, is specially devoting himself tb the preparation of materials which wiK” assist tile Commission. He is having •dans prepared, returns compiled, and other data collected, which will expedite and facilitate your investigations. He lias asked me to say that lie will be glad to appear at any time before the Commission, if required, or to furnish any information that may be of service to you. T shall only add that it is confidently hoped that in the bands of yourself uul of your colleagues wo now begin the solution of a great and perulexing problem, and that you and be will thus win the gratitude of tlio native race, the blessing of European settlors, and the thanks of this colony as a whole. COUNSEL FOR THE NATIVES. Mr. C. P. Skorrett, who appeared for the natives, spoke as follows: It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of the work of the Commission not only in the interests of the colony but' in the interests of the natives. It must be an eminently advantageous thing for natives, as well as for tlio community, that largo areas of native land quito suitable for settlement, which are now unproductive and under existing conditions likely to remain unproductive for an indefinite time, should at the earliest opportunity be made available for settlement and production under some scheme in which the just rights .if the natives are sedulously guarded. As your Honor is aware, I shall appear as the representative of the native owners—not only tb assist them in presenting before the Commission all tlio material and information necessary to enable it to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion upon the questions referred to it; but to support their rights as owners of their lands; and to express their views and aspirations upon those general questions of policy which must necessarily como within the scope of this Commission. I repeat i am here as the representative of the native owners; my first duty is to them; my charge is to adequately protect their rights and interests and to • bring properly before the Commission their desires and views as to the manner in which their lands are to bo disposed of. Your Honor will, I feel sure, agree that a proper representation of the native owners before this Commission is essential to the efficiency of its work. I apprehend that in determining what, areas should be set apart for the individual occupation of native owners, and for natives other than native owners, for the purpose of farming and cultivation; and wliat areas as communal lands and lands l'or descendants and successors, the views and opinions of native owners ought to have great weight with the Commission; and ought as far as possible tt> ho given effect to in the recommendations of tiie Commissioners It seems to mo that the basis of the reference is that regard is first to he had to the personal requirements of native owners both in the present and the future; and lands not required for such purposes are to ho made available for settlement In arriving at a conclusion upon these questions, I observe, from what your Honor has said, that the Commission will not overlook the advisability of encouraging native owners, who have the capacity and inclination so to do, to farm and 'cultivate, their own lands. One further point 1 desire to emphasize. The Commission is to determine by what modes of disposition and on what terms and conditions the native lands sot. apart for settlement, are to he dealt with. I shall submit that upon these questions the wr.P. considered opinion and views of native owners generally, which it will he my duty to'preseut to the Commission, should receive not only the sympathetic consideration of the Commission ’ hut every possible weight. -The native owners are loyal subjects of the King—entitled to the rights and privileges of a subject. The lands which will he dealt with by the Commission are the private lands of the native owners, and have been affirmed to be so by a high judicial decision in this colony. As the owners of these lands, the modes in which the lauds are to be disposed of, arc matters of vital importance 'to them; and their desires as to the mode cf alienation, whether by alienation of the freehold or by lease, or partly in one way and partly in the other, cannot be ignored by the Commission. I shall submit that the well-considered opinion of tlio native owners as to the mode of alienation of their lands ought to be given effect to by your recommendations, subject to such conditions as are necessary to secure the best available consideration being paid to the native owners; to ensure fair dealing; to safeguard the natives from fraud, imposition and overreaching; and to provide, where necessary, that the proceeds of any land are properly secured against thoughtlessness or improvidence. For myself, I shall, while facilitating the work of the Commission, do everything in my power to protect the rights of native owners anti represent their views and opinions; and, appreciating as I do the importance and difficulty of the task which lies before the Commission, I shall deem it right tb make the performance of my duties in this matter my first consideration.

The Chairman: Mr. Skerrett, I am exceedingly pleased that yon have been appointed to the important position of watching the interests of the natives before the Commission, and I have no doubt that with your assistance and that of the native owners, the Commission will at any rate be able to do part of its work. I propose to have another meeting on Tuesday, in Wellington, and then we will see what further we can do. AVe will then see if there are any blocks that are likely to be brought, by the consent of the natives, under this Commission, so that we may start with one block at once. The Commission then adjourned.

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