King Country Chronicle SATURDAY, OCT. 12, 1912 THE LAND BILL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 508, 12 October 1912, Page 4

King Country Chronicle SATURDAY, OCT. 12, 1912 THE LAND BILL.

The amendments introduced into the Land Bill by the Prime Minister concerning the conversion into freehold of L.I.P. lands and the sub-division of native lands by the Crown are both highly important to this district. With respect to the conversion proposals there will probably be little disagreement. The L.I.P. tenure has always been recognised as a somewhat extraordinary attempt to carry into effect the leasehold theories held by certain members of the late administration, and which succeeded in satisfying neither leaseholders nor freeholders. The basis on which the conversion is to be effected appears to he suitable and gives effect to the Prime Minister's oft-reiterated promise concerning the matter. For various reasons the opportunity to obtain the freehold in the manner indicated will probably be seized by the L.I.P. settlers, and the tendency towards eliminating the multiplicity of tenures should be regarded with satisfaction.

Of infinitely greater importance to this district, however, is the proposal to enable native owners to hand over their land to the Government for settlement purposes, the net proceeds, after the land is surveyed, roaded and sub-divided,to be set aside for the natives. To thoße acquainted with the manner in which native lands have hitherto been settled the proposal must appeal as being altogether in the interests of settlement, while the interests of the native owners are fully safeguarded. In order to make the proposal a really practical measure, provision will require to be made to eliminate delays which have rendered abortive the powers of the Maori Land Boards in the case of vested lands. In pursuance of the recommendations of the Stout-Ngata Commissioon, Bet up by the Ward administration large areas of native lands were vested in the Maori Land Boards, to be sold or leased. Many of these blocks are still held by the boards, it being found impossible to open them for settlement owing to lack of funds to effect the necessary surveys, and roading. Had proper provision been made for preparing the vested lands for settlement the clamant voice of the land hungry settler would not have been so rampant in the country. While dealing in this manner with the unsettled native lands it is to be hoped the Government will direct its attention to a question which materially affects both settled and unsettled native lands. In previous articles we have referred to the necessity for the adoption of a roading policy for native owned lands. Large areas of native-owned land have been taken up by European settlers Without provision having been made for roading the same. A problem has thus been created which calls strongly for capable handling. It is entirely in the interests of settlement that Government action should be taken, and it is to be hoped no effort will be spared to induce the authorities to move in the matter.