NATIVE TOWNSHIPS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 285, 13 August 1910, Page 5

NATIVE TOWNSHIPS.

The Native Townships Bill, which it is intended should come into operation at the beginning of next year, provides for vesting, native land situated in a "native township" in the Maori Land Board of the district. Existing leases or mortgages are not to be affected. Public roads in native townships are to be vested in the Crown, or, in the case of any township which is comprised within the boundaries of a borough, in the body corporate of that borough. Reserves, other than native allotments, are also to be vested in the Crown. All leases heretofore granted by the Commissioner of Crown Lands in the name or on behalf of his Majesty of any land situated in a native township, and vested by this Act in a Maori Land Board, shall be deemed to have been granted by that board and shall remain in full force and effect accordingly. The Maori Land Board is to be a leasing authority, and may comprise in the same lease two or more parcels of land held by it in trust for different owners, and in any such case the rent and other moneys receivable by the board in respect of that lease shall be from time to time apportioned by the board between those owners in such manner as it deems just and equitable. No lease of a native allotment under the Native Townships Act, 3 895, shall be granted by a board under this Act, except in pursuance of the precedent consent in writing of the beneficial owners (or their trustees, in the case of owners under disability) or in pursuance of a resolution of the assembled owners. Power is given to the board to subdivide land in native townships into allotments, and also to lay off road lines to be proclaimed by the Governor as public highways. In such cases the board can, out of the revenues of any other land situated in the township and vested in the board and benefited or likely to be benefited, pay the owners such compensation as the board thinks just and equitable. Further, a Maori Land Board may, with the consent in writing of the beneficial owners or their trustees, in the case of owners under disability, sell to his Majesty, but to no other person, any land situated in a native township and vested in the board or any undivided share or interest in any such land. The Crown may, in pursuance of a resolution of the assembled owners, acquire by way of purhesae, but not by way of exchange, any land situated in a native township.

The provisions of the Bill are to apply to any land included in a native township, and which, if it had not been so included, would have been customary land within the meaning of the Native Land Act, 1909. The Native Land Court and Native Appellate Court may exercise in respect of any such land the same powers and jurisdiction as if that land was customary land, and may make freehold orders in respect thereof. Every such freehold order shall have the same effect as a freehold order made in respect of customary land, save that the estate only, and the legal estate shall remain vested in the Moari Land Board. The Native Land Court shall not partition any land situated in a native township without the precedent consent of the Maori Land Board in which that land is vested.

The Native Townships Act, 1895, and amendments of 1899 and 1903, and sections of other Native Land Acta are repealed.