NATIVE LEASEHOLDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 657, 8 May 1929, Page 7

NATIVE LEASEHOLDS

COMMISSION FAVOURS FREEHOLDING QUESTION OF FINANCE (From Our Uivn Correspondent J TE KUITI, To-day. Removal of restrictions now debarring settlers of native land from freeholding their leases is to be recommended to the GovernTuent by the Native Land Leases Commission, Judge McCormick, chairman, told applicants of the Tangitu block, 30 miles south of Te Ivuiti, yesterday. The announcement was prompted by representations from holders of native land, leased through the Waikato-Maniopoto Land Board, seeking relief in this direction and means of finance. The commission also intends recommending that the Government acquire the native title and sell to the occupants, who are debarred under the present legislation from obtaining the freehold, owing to the statutory requirements that part of the land had to be set aside for sale and part for leasing. COMPENSATION Dealing with the financing of settlers to enable them to acquire the freehold of their leases, the chairman pointed out the existence of statutory authority for the creation of a fund, from such proportion of the revenue of native lands as the Native Minister thought fit, for payment of compensation. Thus far no advantage had been taken of this provision. Terms of purchase of the title would by settlers by negotiation between lessees and native owners. He assured the applicants that if they agreed on terms the Land Board would facilitate the arrangement. Lessees had just awakened to the importance of providing a fund for payment of compensation for improvements, a contingency that had not arisen during the past three or four years. The vagueness of the provision for valuation of improvements for compensation purposes, at the expiration of the leases, was touched upon by the chairman, who said that if it had been provided that the Government valuation should be accepted as the basis for compensation, there would have been no trouble. But in the present circumstance, unless the parties could agree on a basis, the issue would have to be settled by evidence.

As a result of discussion with other native owners, Mr. P. Jones expressed the opinion there would be no difficulty in freeholding the leases so long as the eyes were not picked out. of the laud and the poorer areas left.