NATIVE LANDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8361, 22 February 1913, Page 5

NATIVE LANDS

ADEQUACY OP VALUATION. f STATEMENT BY THE HON. W. H. HEERIESThe subject of alienation of Maori lands to speculators was mentioned yesterday by a reporter to the Hon. \V. H. Herries, Native Minister, who explained that no Maori Council agreed to a sale unless the agreement to purchase were made on the basis of a price equal to the Government valuation. In some cases valuation had gone up, and in ethers the Maori landlorti asked for a special valuation. “So far as I can see, tho Maori Land Boards are very careful te see that a proper valuation is given, and would not agree to a sal© if the price was under the Government valuation. This was stipulated in the Native Land Act of 1909. Section 220 required that no alienation shall be confirmed unless the board or court were first satisfied, among other things, that the consideration for the alienation were adequate. Section 223 was even more express, and provided that on the application for the confirmation of an alienation, the court or board shall estimate the adequacy of tho consideration by reference to tho valuation for tho time being under the Valuation Act, 1908; hut if tho court or board think fit, it may require the ValuerGeneral to make a new valuation, and tho -court or board may then estimate tho adequacy of tho consideration by reference to the valuation so made, in lieu of the valuation under tho Act. So that a Maori Land Board could not sanction a sale at less than the Government valuation. “ Speculators had to make declarations that they did not own more than, a certain amount of land, tho areas of first, second, and third-class lands being strictly limited, and the doclaration had even to include the area sought to be purchased. Stringent penalties were provided against false declarations, on proof of which the land obtained was forfeited. “So far as I know, tho Land Boards see that the Maoris get a good price for their land. No transaction in native land can take place unless confirmed by tho Land Board or court.” With regard to speculation, Mr Herries admitted that a certain amount did go on, but it was no more serious than in the case of ordinary Crown lands. Moreover, the speculator had to provide roads, and he would wish to dispose of the land for settlement as soon as possible.