NATIVE LANDS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 152, 3 May 1909, Page 5

NATIVE LANDS.

A petition, which will subsequently be handed to the member for the district, Mr V. H. Reed, for presentation to Parliament, is now being circulated in the Bay of Islands, requesting that steps be taken to bring about the more speedy occupation of the Native lands. It is suggested that more Native Land Courts be held, and that a Native Land Court be appointed to each county concerned, and that when a block 'f Native land is brought before the Court for adjudication the Court should sit continuously until the different owners are defined; further, that after their titles have been so defined, the Native owners should be allowed liberty to dispose of their lands by sale or lease. The petitioners therefore ask Parliament to cither abrogate or amend the Native land laws so as to open up the Native lands for settlement by making provision for the more speedy adjudication of the titles, and by removing the restrictions which now prevent the Natives from dealing with their lands.

The petitioners also desire to eftpress the opinion that in cases where unimproved lands arc offered to the public for lease on behalf of the Maori owners by the Department, the instrument of lease should contain a provision that the lessee shall receive compensation for improvements at a valuation at the termination of his lease.

A copy of the petition has been forwarded to the "Chronicle" office, where signatures will be taken.