TOWNSHIP TENURE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 443, 28 February 1912, Page 5

TOWNSHIP TENURE.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DEMANDS REDRESS. The following is a copy of a letter forwarded to Sir Joseph Ward, Messrs W. F. Massey and C. K. Wilson, M.P.'a, in connection with township tenure in the King Country by the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce: "I am directed by my Chamber to bring under your notice the undesirable position in which the ratepayers of this town are placed. The tenure of town sections is nearly in aii eases a leasehold one from the Maori Land Board. The law allows the native owner (for whom the board acts as trustee) to sell the freehold to the leaseholder, where the native has sufficient other lands to live on. The Maori Land Board, however, adopts the policy that this freeholding of sections is an undesirable thing and has refused applications desired by the European and also by the native—the latter having other lands which he wishes to improve. The town of Te Kuiti is progressing so fast that a water supply, sewerage, street formation, etc., have become urgent necessities. The Borough Council has therefore, been obliged to raise a loan for these purposes. The result of the expenditure of these loan monies will be that the native owner, who has done absolutely nothing to make the town and who has paid no rates thereon, will reap a large proportion of tho benefit of this large expenditure. My Chamber wishes me forcibly to point out the injustice of the position, and to ask for redress. Two examples of refusal by the board are appended, and no doubt there are other cases as many do not bring their applications before the board, the president of which has publicly stated from his chair that he does not think it desirable that the town should be made freehold. I am directed to state that my Chamber is thoroughly in earnest over this matter, and intend to leave no stone untouched towards achieving the desired result." The following are the examples referred to in the letter:—One is a section in which there are two native owners who are amply provided with land apart from the section. The section was valued by the Government valuator at £l5O, of which the natives' interests were assessed at £4O and the lessee's at £llO. The lessee agreed to buy from the natives the'r interest for £145. The second is where one native owns a section and has a farm on which he lives and wants to develop. The Government valuation was £75, the native's interest being valued at £25 and the lessee's at £SO. The lessee agreed to buy from the native at £32. The board refused to grant either application.