LAND SETTLEMENT BILL

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 6, 5 June 1885, Page 2

LA ND SETTLEMENT BILL

The Native Land Settlement Bill, to be presented .to Parliament^ is now completed, and will J be" "distributed shortly. The bill provides means by which native lands can be disposed of, either by way of sale or lease, under the land laws of the colony after they have passed through the Native Land Court. Owners of a block of land will have power to appoint from amongst themselves, if they are eight or more m number, a committee consisting of seven persons who will haye a right to deal with the land, subject to certain powers of control on the part of the owners. <'. If the number is seven or less, then the owners themselves will have powers of committee. Boards will be constituted for certain defined districts, and will haver power, upon the recommendation of the committee, to take land and use it for settlement purposes m a way similar to the operations, of Waste Lands Boards.' The commissioners of these boards will have large powers entrusted to them, but always subject on the one hand to the recommendations of the committee, and on the other to the regular tions of the Governor m Council bringing into, force the land ; laws under which the laud will be administered. Expedition is, now .being used m putting lands through the 'Native Land Court, with the view of bringing them speedily under the operation of the bill, when passed.