NATIVE TOWNSHIPS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 460, 27 April 1912, Page 5

NATIVE TOWNSHIPS.

QUESTION OF TENURE. DEPUTATION 'lO NATIVE MINISTER. The question of the tenure of native townshipa has exercised ths minds of those acquainted with the position of matters in Te Kuiti, Taumarunui and Otorohanga for some considerable time. Ever since progress began to be made in the centres referred to it. has been apparent to the far-seeing mind that considerable alteration to the original conditions would be necessary in order to give the centres mentioned a proper opportunity to progress. Year 3 ago when Sir James Carroll was approached on the subject one of his replies was that it was never anticipated that those King Country centres would progress so rapidly. Strangely enough the same excuse is being advanced to-day. When the projected Ministerial visit to Te Kuiti became known a deputation was appointed by the Te K'jiti Chamber oC Commerce to wait upon the Prime Minister and his colleague, the Minister for Native Affairs, to place the matter of township tenure before them, with a view to getting the township lands placed upon the same footing as ordinary native lands. The arrival of the Hon. G. W. S. Macdonald, Native Minister, on Fri-

day morning, presented an opportunity of placing the matter definitely I before him while awaiting the coming of the Prime Min later. Tho arrival of representative.': from Taumarunui and Otorobanga ledi to a combined deputation waiting upon the Minister at, 'lie Wailemo County offices yesterday afternoon to discuss the matter. Messrs Howard ami Mostyn Jones (ToKuiti), C. J. Kysn and Vv". Thorp (Taumarnnui), and John Ormshy (Olorobangal, spoki on the subject. Mr Howartb, in opening the subject traversed the history of the townships and referred to their remarkable development. Referring to Te Kuit.i he said that-when the townships were put on the market, no provision was made- ! for reading or for the setting' aside of J reserves for town purposes. He eon- | tended that this was against the general j custom of opening lands for town j settlement. ,Mid compared the oircum- j stance with the manner of opening j European lands for similar purposes, j The conditions decreed Unit the Euro- j penn lessee should accomplish all the j development work .from the planning j of the town to the financing, of fh> j various schemes for the establishing \ of conditions suitable for the genera! ! health and progress of a European j community. The amount required for ] civic progress at Te Kuiti would at ;m j distant, dale aggregate to Ml (Hi, Odd. In j these circumstances it. was felt- that j the power .given to the 'lessees io bargain with file owners for the freehold of the township sect ions under equitable conditions should not be controlled beyond appeal by the Maori Eand Foard. When a bargain was made under equitable conditions the board should not be- allowed to arbitrarily veto if. Jle urged '-hat the town lands should be dealt with under similar conditions to those governing the sale of rural native land. This provided an ample safeguard for the Native interests, and would satisfy the European lessees. Mr llowarth referred (o (he financial aspect of the question anil instanced: (he drawback the lessees were under owing to the inability to finance on jfhe leaseholds. ; This was a serious mat .(or and del ri- j mentally affected the business pro- ■ spects of (he place. The speaker opposition shown by (hose who <•:■■- : [loused She leasehold l< euro U< the ; acquisition by the lessees of (lie freehold of native township sections was "due io a misapprehension of t heposition. The cardinal principle of i the leasehold doctrine was thai the : State reaped the honelil attaching to j the unearned increment and the people j at large henohffed accordingly. In '' the case of native township lands the j 1 opposite occurred. After all the :m- j, provements rendered necessary ai-o desirable by European progress had i been accomplished hy the enterprise oi : : community the benefit, accrued to the i few native owiu-rc who did noil: inn; ! to assist towards the heiierment v! (lie place and were in many cases absentees. This was surely in direct, opposition to the leaseholders' principles.

Mr 0. J. Kyan, Tsumarunui, endorsed Mr HowartkY contention?, lie also pointed out that Taumarmini was somewhat differently situated in the matter. That township was not individualised. The lands were held communally and hi' suggested that, an excellent opportunity was afforded (he Government for acquiring She township or for allowing the municipality to acquire it. lie also refern dto the fact that the revaluation, at the end of 21 years operated unfairly on those who had done all the work of improving the pla.ee. Mr W. Thorp, Taumarunui, said that, the present system of leasehold tended to keep Maoris hanging about, the townships when 'hey would bo much hotter employed on other lands. The money they received was not utilsed for their benefit, and so long

as they received their doles in rent they would continue to hang about. lie was endeavouring to impress the iniquity of this habit upon them and trying to get. them to go on their rural lands and work them. Willi the money received, from the sale of their town lands this would he possible. Moreover, with the sale of their sec tions the incentive to hang round the towns would he gone. Mr John Ormshy, Otorohanga, said he was both an owner and a lessee oi native township lands. tie supporter. the request, *.o give lessees the opportunity o( acquiring the freehold under equitable conditions. The board's refusal to confirm applications had caused consternation to both natives and Europeans.

Mr Jeimiiißs and Mr C. K. Wilson, M.P., liotli urt;cii the irrant.in;: of the request, and all the- speakers paid :l tribute Lo the members and president of the Maori Land Board for the manner in which the business of the board was carried out. Mr Macdonaid. in replying to the deputation, stated he was not aware if the Prime Minister would .announce his definite intention on the mailer. lie was personally interested m (he question and had considerable exp. rieneo of it on the East Go.ast. 'I he township of To Puis bad been acquired bv the Government and would be deposed of under the ordinars Government conditions. He held opinions like a number of those who wore present. The matter would he brought before Cabinet by him and won id be carefully considered. Possibly a commission was necessary to j'o wlo the general matter of native lands. In any case as a. broad Sonera! nrincipie if "land was held by cither European or Maori in such a manner as to siay progress steps should be taken to brim; it. into conformity with general conditions and not nUow any hardship to continue. Eater, the same depute.! ion waited on the Prime Minister, when Mr AYar.krow, Tsumarunni, and Mr Mostyn Jones, To Kuili, also spoke, .and the Prime Minister promised that every consideration would be jriver> to the representations mane to him and to the Native Minister.