NATIVE LANDS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 222, 9 June 1915, Page 2

NATIVE LANDS.

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OUTLINED. A statement of the present position in regard to the Native Court policy of the Government was made by the Minister for Native Affairs (Hon. H. W. Hemes) in an interview. In referring to the great activity that has been shown during the past year, Mr Herries said.: Sections of the 1913 Act, which prcatically amalgamated the Native Land Courts and Maori Land Boards came into operation on March 31, 1914, in the case of all new arrangements, some little time elapsed before full working order was obtained,, but in a very short time the benefit of the amalgamation was felt. The system is working admirably. In native land purchase .considerable progress has been made. An area of 96,000 acres has been purchased during the war and proclamations forbidding private alienation have been issued over another 100,000 acres, the interests in which have been obtained. Purchases have been and are being, mad e specially along the route of the proposed railways ton the Stratford . Main Trunk Line, on the Tauranga-Gisborne line and on the Napier-Gisbbrn e line. In the latter case, the titles of the Waikare-Moha-ka blocks, which have long been a stumbling block have been satisfactorily settled by legislation and large interests purchased in the more important of the blocks, covering an area of about 45,000 acres. Purchase is going on in the native lands north of Gisborne, where leases held by Europeans are now falling in. Large blocks here have been proclaimed and are now benig purchased and contain some of the finest gracing lad in the Dominion, and are very suitable or cutting up. It is hoped Vi£it before long the Ejast Coast will carry a large population o European settlers. Nothing has been done Yvhere the natives are desirous of farming for themselves. The blocks that have been incorporated by the native owners for farming purposes hav e been exempted frmo the operations of the 1913 Act. Finality has at last been reached. ssid Mr Herries, n the asccraainment of titles to tjhe vast Urewera County and the Native Lands Purchase officers have been instructed to continue purchasing any interests that can be purchased in the blocks in which the Crown has already interests When all the interests that can be purchased have been obtained, the interest of the non-sellers will be civ, out, the block surveyed a,nd declared Crown lands. Numerous offers to sell hav e been received from native owners in ether portions of the Urcjwera County, and the Crown is prepared to deal with those offers.

Until trie Crown has consolidated its interests, said the Minister, it would not be wis.s to throw open the land for private alienation; indeed, the state of the surveys is not far enough advanced to permit of private persons buying. Another great change, the Minister went on to say, is taking place on the west coast of the North Island, owing to th e operation of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment Act, 1913. The old Parihaka wall, he said, has been taken down and the West Coast reserve is being partitioned by a court presided over by Judge Jack. By this means the unleased portion of the reserve can be settled by the owners with secure freehold titles. Besides this, in tihe 18,000 acres the leases of which came due lately, fresh leases have been given ti last fnr ten years, after which the land reverts to the Maori owners, who will then, enjoy, the advantages of the partition. Meanwhile, the Crown can purchase, and is only waiting for the partition to be completed to deal with the numerous offers for sal e that have been received. The same action is being taken in the native township. Steps are being taken to acquire for the Crown the freeholds of Otorohanga and a portion of Taumanmui. Negotiations have also been going on wit,h regard to Te "Kuiti.