NATIVE LESSORS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 71, 15 July 1914, Page 4

NATIVE LESSORS.

An important statement as to the requirements respecting the lands of native lessors was made by his Honor Judge Jones, President of the Tairawhiti Maorj Land Board, at the last sitting of the Board, says the "Poverty Bay Herald." There have been many eases in which leases of individual shares have been held up because a native has not been able to show the margin of land, other than that leased, which would prevent him from becoming landless within the meaning of the Act. "The Board," remarked the President, "had gone into the matter fully, and considered that each case would have to be judg'ed on its merits, but it might be taken as a general rule that if the Board had proof that the native was not occupying a part of the block, and that it was not required for his occupation, and the want of ether lands was not directly raised, the Board would in future dispense with evidence is to the other lands of native lessors." "Where the individual does not desire to use the, land himself." said the President, "it must be manifest that it must be likely to yield more for his support if leased than if left unoccupied, or not usefully occupied, and it therefore stood to reason that an alienation by way of lease was not an alienation that rendered the lessor a landless native within the meaning .if the Act. . . It would be manifestly unjust, for instance, if a native* :>wnod one piece of land only on which a good rental could he derived,that the lative should be prevented from making the best use of it, and thus defeat the main object of the Statute, which seems to be that fche land should do something towards supporting him and preventing his becoming a burden on the State. By having this land at a fair rental, such native is rather- increasing than diminishing his means of maintenance and support."