THE NATIVE LANDS BILL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 924, 11 June 1877, Page 3

THE NATIVE LANDS BILL.

A late telegram reported that a new Native Lands Bill, drafted by the Hon. Mr Whitaker, was being printed for distribution previous to the meeting of Parliament. Writing, apparently with some knowledge of the nature of the measure, the Auckland Herald says : “ It is known that the bill has been drawn by Mr Whitaker with the assistance of his Honor Judge Fenton, and that the advice of several gentlemen, who have been connected with the working of the present Act, has been taken on points of importance. There seems a general agreement amongst those who ought to know something of the measure as to its general scope and design, and we have no doubt that the impression, whether farmed on surmise or information, is correct. The new bill will, it is believed, be devoted mainly to simplification, which, after all, is the one thing needful with respect to native lands. The present laws are so complicated, so multifarious in their requirements as to witnesses to signatures, and so forth, that it had become almost impossible to get a title for any piece of native land. The new Act, it is believed, will start with clearing the ground, and will then embody all the procedure necessary on the subject. The Government will stop the native land purchase system, but of course they will take ample powers to complete tire transactions into which they have entered. The constitution and working of the Lands Court will be made as plain and simple as possible, consistent with the ascertainment of the rights of the natives. There can be no question as to the necessity for anew Native Lands Act, and we believe that the present measure will fulfill the purpose for which it is designed. Mr Whitaker has taken great trouble with the Act, and we need not say that his forte as a Parliamentary draftsman lies especially in his power of condensing and simplifying a mass of complicated provisions.”