GOVERNMENT LEASING OF LAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1609, 8 September 1874, Page 349

GOVERNMENT LEASING OF LAND.

Te Waka Maori, 25th August. There is a paper published at Napier, called the Hawkc's Bay Times, in which is printed a couple of columns in the Maori language, under the heading of "Fruits of Knowledge for the Maori People." Adverting to a question asked by the Hon. Mr Waterhouse in the Legislative Council, on the Bth of July last, respecting the leasing of native lands by the Government we notice that a Maori rendering of what was said in the Council on that occasion is given in the issue of the 4th of August instant of the paper in question, which

most qertainly is not an accurate interpretation of the words spoken in the Council, or of their plain and obvious meaning. The idea conveyed to the native mind is,thattheleasingagreed to by the Government is intended as a means of obtaining the freehold possession of such lands, whether in accordance with the views of the natives or not, —a lever for the more effectual putting forth of the strength of the Government for the purpose of securing the land ;—a weapon, in fact, with which to kill the lands, as the Maoris express it. To prevent any misapprehension in the minds of natives who may chance to see the paper in question, we give a careful translation of the passage as it is published in Hansard, (a book in which all Parliamentary debates are published),—an authority which, we presume, even the Hawke's Bay Times will not impugn. The English version given below is an exact transcript of the report in Hansard, and our native readers can inquire of their pakeha friends whether the Maori rendering bo correct or not. The following is the passage referred to:— The Hon. Mr Waterhouse asked the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, whether it be true that the Government have agreed, or are about to agree, to lease large tracts of native land; and if so, under what authority such leases have been, or are about to be, made ? He might state that he had no positive information that leaseß of this character had been entered iuto. At the present time all leases of native lands made prior to those lands passing through the Native Lands Court were illegal. But there was a very general statement abroad, and it had come to his hearing—and he could not but think that there was something in it—that leases had been entered into, or agreements to lease, considerable tracts ot native land, and it was with a view to remove the doubt which existed in his mind upon that subject, and to obtain some definite information, that he asked the question. The Hon. Dr Pollen, in reply, said the Council would be aware that provision was made, under the Public Works and Immigration Act of last session, for raising a sum of £500,000 for the purchase of lands in the North Island. These leases, which it is hoped are the preliminaries leading to the purchase of the land, had been entered into for the purpose of carrying out the views of the Assembly, as expressed last session. His honorable friend, as well as himself, knew very well that it was not always possible to get the freehold of native land, but that, in practice, the cession of the freehold generally followed the leasing of the land. That, at any rate, had been the view with which the leases had been taken in the first instance. Expressing his own personal views on the matter, he had no doubt that, in course of time, the possession of the freehold covered by these leases would be secured to the Colony. The Hon. Mr Waterhouse did not kuow whether his honorable friend had a written reply to make to the question. It was usual to have a written reply, to which members could refer in case subsequent action was taken. It was his intention to take subsequent action upon the reply given by the honorable member. The Hon. Dr Pollen said that his answer would be simply that the Government have agreed to lease large tracts of land. Authority to purchase was given by the Immigration and Public Works Act, and the leases were being taken as preliminary to the expected acquisition of the freehold. On the motion of the Hon. Mr Waterhouse, the reply of the Hon. Dr Pollen was ordered to be entered in the Journals of the Council. It will be seen from the above that the Hon. Dr. Pollen, in answer to the Hon. Mr Waterhouse, simply stated what had been observed usually to bo the case, namely, that " The cession of the freehold usually followed the leasing of the land," thereby showing to the Council that the fact of the Government leasing the land was not likely to prevent their effecting a purchase of it. Ho said it was " hoped the leases would be preliminaries leading to the purchase of the lands;" that they were taken as " preliminary to the expected acquisition of the freehold ;" and that his own personal view of the matter was, that such would.be the case; that is to say, he expected that the natives would, of their own free will, in due time, agree to sell. 11 is nothing new to say that the Government desire to purchase laud. Of course they are desirous of acquiring land for settlement; and they arc prepared to purchase any suitable lands offered to them by the natives, whether previously leased to them or not> provided always, however, that the natives so offering to sell land have sufficient remaining to support them. If those natives who may have leased lands to the Government should object to sell them, then, as a matter of course, their land will return to them at the expiration of tho term mentioned in the lease. In all such matters the Government is exactly in the position of private individuals, and they can no more depart from the covenants and agreements contained in the deed of lease than a private individual can do. In both cases all conditions of the lease must be observed.