East Coast Land Association.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1027, 24 January 1882, Page 2

East Coast Land Association.

Pursuant to arrangement the preliminary meeting for the formation of an Association having for its object the bringing about of legislation reform for subdividing lands anil adjusting the difficulties surrounding the land titles of the Bay, was held at the Masonic Hotel, on Saturday afternoon last. At 2.30, the hour appointed, a large gathering took place in Mr Page’s billiard-room, over a hundred persons were present. Mr J.W. Johnson, Chairman County Council, in opening the proceedings, explained that the meeting bad been convened by himself and His Worship the Mayor. The speaker stated briefly that the object of the meeting was to consider the best remedial legislation that could take place .with a view to settling the disputed titles in the Bay, and for advocating generally such measures as would promote the general welfare of the community. He proposed, and it was carried, that His Worship the Mayor would preside. On His Worship taking the chair, he stated that he need hardly say that many of those present were fully conversant with the important objects for which the meeting had been called. Mr Chambers had been most instrumental in bringing the meeting together, he would, therefore, call shortly upon that gentleman to explain to those assembled the objects of the proposed Association, llis Worship read telegrams from Mr Locke expressing his cordial approval of the steps being taken, and regretting his unavoidable absence. After His Worship read a copy of the circular convening the meeting,

Mr Chambers stood up to address the meeting. He said that he had put himself forward in this matter feeling convinced, as doubtless everyone in the district was, of the great disadvantage we all labored under in consequence of the existing difficulties surrounding land matters in the Bay. What kept the Bay back was the faulty state of the land titles. Having discussed the matter with a number of people in the district, the conclusion arrived at was that the best thing to do was to form a powerful Association, that would be able to compel the Government to give them their rights. In the past the Government had steadily neglected the interests of this community. The land titles of the district were all over the Colony known to be notoriously bad, and the Government had not done a single thing to remedy the existing state of affairs. It was not desired that injustice should be done either to one race or the other. The rights of all were to be respected, but what was desired was that land should be passed that would remove the difficulties the district had so long labored under. Nineteen-twentieths of the land in the district were held under such complicated laws—laws of such a contradictory character that it was impossible to get a perfect title. A strong Association could bring sufficient pressure to bear to cause an improved state of things to come about. Looking at the land in the district, it was in quality unequalled. He was under-estimating tbe sum when he stated over a million of money, shut out from the district, would have been invested here during the past ten years, were it not for unfortunate position of our land tenure. Other districts, such as Tauranga, Opotiki, and Wairoa, it was true labored under somewhat similar disadvantages to this. The question was whether we were satisfied with the action of the Government? By all means an Associa'ion should be formed, sinking all private differences, and having the one great end in view of bringing about the legislation required, and forcing upon the Government the requirements of the Bay. Politics should be excluded from such an Association. (Hear, hear). The question was not one of Lockites or McDonaldites ; nor was it proposed to be a sheep-farmers’ association. Men were all equal, and equally interested in the result. Holders of land, the working men, artizans, tradesmen—all would be proportionately benefited by the consummation of that which was so devoutly wished. An increased expenditure'of outlay in the district would be brought about. So far, the speaker observed, he had only spoken about the land question. There were other questions of almost equally weighty import demanding the attention of the people of the Bay. There was the question of the Supreme Court sitting here; a local Waste Lands Board should be formed for this part of the country. There was also the question of Harbor works. The dealing with these and other matters might also be brought within the province of the Association. There was no reason why the whole community should not work harmoniously with the gentleman who now represented the district. The main object of the Association should be first by persistent action to bring under the notice of the Government the schemes desired to be carried out; hold monster meetings, and let the outside public know that there was such a place as Poverty Bay. It was only to be known by the rest of the island that we were heavily handicapped in the race for life—that wo needed legislative reform to give this fertile district a fair chance—and if it could be shown to the great bulk of the population of New Zealand that those urgentreforms were needed, the district would most assuredly get them. He would there-

fore propose “That an Association be formed for the purpose of urging upon the Government the necessity of introducing during the ensuing session of Parliament such legislation as would provide for the subdivision of lands in this district, facilitate the adjustment of the disputed titles, and generally for such measures as would promote the settlement aud prosperity of the East Coast.”

Captain Ferris seconded the proposition. The question at issue was, he said, one of such vital importance to the district, that the necessity of the step proposed scarcely required consideration. It was a noted fact for many years past that the district suffered through its defective laud titles. All knew that time after time people came to the district, bringing with them money to invest here, only to leave again because they could not acquire any property with a perfect title. Those who remained here have had no return fortheir outlay invested. The settlement of the land titles of this district meant progress for the Bay, and prosperity for all in it. Not only were the lands about Gisborne in need of being put right, but there were other blocks more remote. (The speaker then proceeded to point out the different Land Acts under which different blocks in the district were held.) The present holders of leases were so insecure in their position that they hesitated to incur any further expenditure in improving their runs. Many of the leases were near their termination. The lands were inalienable. The Natives were prohibited by law from selling, and the Europeans from buying, and thus all parties were placed at a great disadvantage. It was necessary that some speedy provision should be made to bring about a change in the state of affairs. He would have much pleasure in seconding Mr. Chambers’s proposition.

Mr A. C. Arthur said he did not think there was a person in the room who would not agree with the proposition put forward by Mr Chambers, and those working with him. The difficulties the community labored under were indeed of considerable magnitude. Everyone knew that the Land Acts were far from meeting the necessities of the case. Session after session the district had been led to believe that some new law would be passed. Unless concerted action were now taken by al] sections of the community, there would be no chance of the defects being remedied. The Act of 1873 was as bad as it could be. In fact it was altogether utterly unworkable. People in this district were spending large sums of money in fighting with shadows, and the more they struggled, the more complicated the position became. He would give an instance of a case in point. He held a property under lease, and had two hundred landlords to deal with. He had been trying for years to complete his title. When one of the landlords dies, then comes the appointment of his successors. In one case eight persons were appointed to succeed a deceased owner. When the successors are minors, guardians are appointed. Then still greater difficulties arise. These guardians cannot sell, and generally difficulties practically insurmountable, crop up. Everybody said that the laws were bad. In consequence of these laws the advancement is kept back. There is only one title to a block of anything like a large area where the title is really perfect, and that block has changed hands, he believed, recently. If all the titles were right, there would be a.constant flow of capital into the Bay, and everyone would be benefitted. If the proposed Association could assist to have these bad laws altered, and a new law passed, great good would result. Every man should back up the Association to the best of his ability. It was no political party. If that could only be drilled into the mind of every oue in the district the Association would be unanimously supported. That should be done. Another drawback was the uncertainty at which sittings were held here of the Native Land Court. There was an interval of about two years, he thought, when the Land Court was held here. The loss, in consequence, was very great. There were over 100,000 acres Of land ready to pass the Court. Another difficulty in connection with the appointment of successors to deceased grantees, was in determining the ages of the heirs, when apparently minors. Much confusion arose under this head. As no regular registry had been kept of the dates of the births of Native children, he thought the judges of the Native Land Court should fix the age of the child, to the best of his judgment, when making tbe appointment of successor. Married women also were another source of inconvenience in completing titles to land. It was wellknown that Native women as a rule married when they were quite children, and it frequently happened that they became separated from their lawful husbands according to English law, and took to husbands under the old Maori custom. The difficulty in such a case would be that the woman could make no valid dealing with her property, without the consent of the original husband, who, possibly, might be away at the Bay of Islands or Wai rarapa. That was a point worth looking into. The mode of having signatures attested was also very cumbrous. Only a limited class of persons can legally witness a Native’s signature to a deed. Oftentimes when the Native is willing to convey or lease his interest in a block, the requisite attesting

officers are not available. Thus the negotiation falls through, and the title to the land remains unsettled. Mr Arthur thought so long as two persons of known respectability witnessed the Native signature, that should he sufficient in the eye of the law. With respect to the joint tenancy lands in the district, doubtless special legislation would be required to place the title to them in a proper position. Speaking generally he would say that the Native land laws bore equally unfair upon the Natives themselves as they did upon the Europeans. If the Association would only work together to do some good towards getting improved laws passed, an incalculable benefit would be achieved. There had been an immense amount of over this land question for the last seven years, and there should be now some work done. If necessary cause a political agitation upon the question. Too large a Committee would not be advisable, It required the greatest care in picking out proper persons to go upon the Committee, thoroughly efficient ahd worthy members. The Committee eould appoint its own chairman. Above all the Committee should not bo too large, (Hear, hear).

Mr Chambers : Any Committee appointed would be only a provisional one. A public meeting would be called by the Chairman, and that meeting might ratify what the Committee did, or make such alteration as it deemed necessary. Mr Allan McDonald said he would like to say a few words. He would suggest that a committee be appointed to draft a bill. He might mention that the first session he went to Wellington he drafted a bill. That bill was approved of by Sir George Grey’s Government; it was approved of by this Government. The Attorney-General approved of it also. But there were people in the district who did not approve of that bill. They caused a public meeting to be held, aud caused much agitation against the measure. The consequence was the bill never became law. What he would say would be that the committee should proceed at once to draw up a bill to deal with the land questions of this district, and submit the draft to a public meeting. So long as the bill was for the benefit of the district he felt confident that the Government would support it. The Hon. Mr Bryce did so last time, and he was sure he would do so again. The Government had neglected this district in every sense of the word. Another thing he would like to draw the attention of the meeting to was to the moneys on the estimates. Unless applied for the votes would lapse on the 31st March. The sooner these moneys were asked for the belter. Mr Chambers in tbe course of his remarks had referred to the necessilyof a silting of the Supreme Court being held here ; also a Deeds Registry Office. These were two great essentials the district much needed. The subdivision of the lands, and making some provision for facilitating the dealings with land under the 17th section of the Act of 1867, were matters of the greatest moment. If the Government would not take up the Bills he would take them up himself, and go through with them. He believed if it were not for the public meeting held last year, the present difficulties would have been legislated for. He hoped that every one would pull together. He would do his best to further the interests of the diftrict in every. (Cheers.) He would have had a resolution prepared, but that he had been only informed of the meeting a few minutes before it took place.

Mr Matthews said the resolution was to form an Association. He had a suggestion to make. Other gentlemen had spoken so thoroughly upon the position in which the difficulties surrounding tbe land titles in the Bay affected the whole community, that he would not detain the meeting by any remarks under that head, llis suggestion was that if the resolution before the meeting should be carried, that every person present should forthwith be enrolled as a member of the Association; and in order to do so, sign a membership list before leaving the room. (Hear, hear,) A provisional committee should be appointed. By these means many names would be added to the Association that would not be so readily obtainable on any other occasion. It would not be strong if the committee represented but a few persons. It should represent the dis trict generally. Every person should subscribe his name to the Association. And when a public meeting would be held instead of thirty or forty members, there would be a far larger number to attend. Mr. E. ff. Ward fully endorsed what had fallen from Mr McDonald. A bill should be drafted before next session. After some further remarks from Mr Ward relative to the action he had taken when in Wellington, the resolution was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. Mr AV. K. McLean said that the meeting having passed the resolution, the next question was one of ways and means. Now that the Association had been formed he presumed that funds should be raised to carry it on. Mr Graham said that funds would be required for printing, advertising, and sending delegates to Wellington to assist in getting the Bill passed; besides providing for other incidental expenditure. The assistance of southern members would be required in the matter. Not having any direct interest in this question as a rule, they wore rather inclined to be lukewarm. Unless legislation took place

in the direction indicated, the position of the land titles here would be confusion worse confounded. Mr Graham proposed that the subscription to the Association should be 10s a year. The committee should be thoroughly representative. All sections of thq community and all shades of opinion, should be represented there, and they should fake the work of the Association in hand. Mr AV. K. McLean seoouded Mr Graham’s motion. Mr Woodbine Johnson proposed as an amendment that the subscription be reduced to 2s. 6d., so that every person might be enabled to join and exercise the right of membership. Mr E. S. AVard seconded Mr. Johnson’s amendment. Mr Chambers fully concurred with the last amendment. If a half-a-crown subscription were not sufficient to defray the expenses of carrying it on, himself and others eould make up the deficiency. The object of the Association was that every person should be got to join, and, therefore, the subscription should bo as low as possible. Mr. Charles Evans objected to any subscription. Mr Graham subsequently withdrew his motion. Mr Matthews said that as many people as possible were required to join the Association. They wanted all the members they could get. He was inclined to think that it would be a mistake if there were no subscription demanded. There was more independence when a person paid his membership fee, and had an equal right to exercise his voice. The charge should, however, be as small as it could consistently be with the requirements of the Association. There would be the cost of tickets lor members.

Mr Weston thought the great object was that every person should be induced to join this Association. The question of entrance fee was one deserving of attention. It was only by united action on the part of the whole district that they need ever hope to see the place progress. He approved of the remarks that had fallen from the last speaker, and would support the motion before the meeting. Mr Somervell thought that most of the gentlemen interested in the purchase of lands from the Natives, would be thoroughly alive to the importance of the organization upon which the meeting had resolved. But the subject was even of vast interest to those who had not land, because there were perhaps many who were now or soon might be in a position to acquire land, and desire to obtain it, in order that they might make this district their home. AVhat had kept Poverty Bay standing still for so loug a term ? The place had not progressed. Why ? Because the lands were locked up. AVhat with one Land Act and another the lands were locked up. It behoved those persons interested in the welfare of the district, to back up in this matter, those gentlemen who had the capital to dispose of in opening up the country. It was an idle dream to suppose that the lands in this district, speaking generally, could be located upon without a large expenditure of capital. The laud must get into the Europeans hands before that could be done. Once the land passed away from the Natives into European hands, then the settlement of the district might be looked forward to. Let them have the voice of all in the great work the Association was about to undertake. Let them have the community with them. The Association should be formed of two kinds of members—those who paid, and those who did not pay. He would tell them the reason why he thought that was a right view to take. AVhen a petition was prepared, signed and sent to Parliament, it depended in a great measure upon the number of signatures affixed, the importance to be attached to that petition. If a petition were trnsmitted to AVellington, from this district, containing but half-a-dozen of signatures, the members of Parliament would say, “ Are these all the people in Poverty Bay ?” the petition would not create much importance, but would simply be cast aside. For that reason he would advocate the suggestion he put forth. Everybody should be a member of the Association. Mr AV. K. McLean said that Mr Somervell’s proposal was tantamount to having the Association supported by voluntary contributions. Those who could were to pay, and those who could not were to leave it alone.

Captain Tucker was of opinion that the more members on the committee the better. The committee could not be too largo. Mr AV. L. Rees, after referring generally to the objects of the Association, pointed out that it should be an instruction to the committee to draw up rules of the Association—simple and plain rules for its guidance. Also to draw up a report on the subject of tbe Native Land Laws, so far as related to the land. A public meeting should be called of all persons dedesirous of becoming members of the Association. The report should set forth clearly all the mischief in the present land laws requiring to be remedied, and the proposed steps to be taken for a better administration. It would be necessary, he observed, that some such action as this should be taken. The provisional committee should point out such defects as, in its opinion,demand remedial measures. The drafting of a bill should be the next step. That being done, a public meeting should be called at as early a date as possible. Some time was occupied in proposing

the names of many persons to be members of the committee. It was eventually carried that the provisional committee should consist of Messrs. Graham, Brassey, Arthur, Chambers, Tucker, Ferris, aud Nolan, with power to add to their number. So many names were being put on to the committee that Messrs. Dargaville, Poynter, aud Gannon asked to have their names withdrawn from the committee; the two last-named gentlemen being in favor of the committee being a compact body of workers. Mr. Rues proposed that the Chairman of this meeting be authorised to receive names of members and subscriptions, and that he act as treasurer. Carried. At a meeting of the committee held afterwards there were present Mr C. D. Bennet in the chair, Messrs. McDonald, Tucker, Nolan, Chambers, Rees, Brassey, Graham, and Bennett. The names of Messrs. Craig {Herald), Penfold, Matthews, and AVard were added to the committee, besides soma others.