NATIVE LANDS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2094, 31 May 1907, Page 4

NATIVE LANDS

NEW SYSTEM OF CONTROL URGED. Press Association. AUCKLAND, yesterday

Tho Native Land Commission, sitting at To lvuiti, received a document signed by tho owners of various blocks within tho Roliopotao, sotting out that though tho Maori Land Board had done good wor! ' s usefulness had boon limited h,. dofocts in tho Act and lack of fund < for its successful working. They proposed the administration of Maori lands by a Board composed of men having special knowledge of land settlement; that tho president reside in tho district; that practical farmers bo appointed ns instructors, and paid by the Stnto; that loans bo grantod to Natives for . working their land, and whoro a Native provos incapable tho Board may take and loaso his land; that land in suitable aroas bo sot apart for farming by tho owners, also reserves for minors, tho surplus to be leased or sold by auction; that salos of land to tho Crown in this district J l( j discontinued, and all restrictions removed from lands of capable Natives.

The Chief Justice expressed agreement with the majority of tho proposals, but took exception to the proposal , to remove all restrictions in tho case of capable Natives. Ho foresaw groat difficulty in declaring •a Maori to bo capable, and said tho system would bo open to abuse. He thought tho proposal for putting all lands up for sale or lease by auction most desirablo. One of tho owners stated that tho wliolo of tho 59,000 acres of Mokau leased to Joshua Jones was practically idle. Ho suggested that the Government should take tho land over and see that improvements were made. Tho Chief Justice said if the rent was not paid according to tho lease tho ownors had power of re-entry, but he was informed that the lease could not be found.

THE UREWERA COUNTRY

TITLES DETERMINED.

WELLINGTON, last night,

During the session of 1896, an Act was passed to make provision as to the ownership and local government of Native lands in the Urcwora district, aggregating about three quarters of a million acres. In accordance with the provisions of tho statute a Commission of the Europeans and five members of the Tulioo tribo was appointed to divide the Urowera district into blocks, and, with duo regard to Native customs and usages, investigate tho ownership of each block, adopting as for as possible the hapit boundaries. Tho Commission spoilt a considerable period in carry ing out its duties. Orders wore made declaring names of owners of each block, grouping families together, but specifying the names of each members of tho family and their relative shares of the block to which each family was entitled. A very largo number of appeals wore lodged against the division of tho Commission. Authority was given to the Native Minister under the Aet to direct an expert enquiry into cases with respect to which appeals wore made, and in accordance with the power thus conferred upon him ho appointed Captain Mair, of tho Nativo Department, Mr. Paratene Ngata (father of Mr. A. T. Ngata, M.H.R.), and Mr. Barclay, Maori interpreter in the House of Representatives, a Commission to deal with the appeals. This Commission lias now completed its labors and has forwarded its roports to tho . Native Minister.

Tho Hon. Mr. Carroll states that titles to all blocks in the Urowera County have now been ascertained and a committee of Natives set up to deal with all questions affecting the reserve as a whole or affecting any portion of it. The committee has power to alienate any portion to the Crown, either absolutely or for any lesser estate or by way of cession for mining purposes. Tho Government may order the laying out of roads and landing purposes in the district and authority is given to the Crown to take land for accommodation houses, camping grounds for stock, and other purposes of public utility. Tho total area so taken is not to exceed 400 acres. For many years tliore has been a belief that the Urewera Comity is rich in minerals and attempts have been made from time to timo to induce the Maoris to allow the district to be prospected. Tho Natives, however, have sot. their faces against any invasion of their territory,' but the Native Minister points out that now the titles have been finally sottlcd the Crown will be able to move in the direction of getting a portion of the area needed for mining purposes.