NATIVE LAND LAW.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 8 February 1907, Page 2

NATIVE LAND LAW.

AN IMPORTANT POINT. Per Press Association. Wki.unktox, February 7. In Ihe Supreme Court, before Ihe Chief Jusliee, an important point concerning the Nalive Land Law was argued. Section 2(! of iiie •' Jlaori Lands Administration A-;t, Wilt)," provides thai no one may acquire Maori laud by purchas:', iej.se or gift, unless he lirst makes a statutory declaration that he does not hold or own more than 2.W0 acres of freehold land, ineluding not more lliau (ifO acres of lirsl-class land. The point raised is whether (his restriction is impliedly repeal",! by the Maori Land Sclticment Act, 1905. Mr Lawrence Hig. gins, sheep farmer of Moles, Hawke's Bay, applied to Te Ikaroa Dislrict Maori Land Board lo approve a leas; to him from Paora ICurupu and other natives, of 1025 acres of second-class land in Tiihirangi block, the term of leme being twentj'tono years, and the annual rental (is 2d per aere, being 5 per cent, on the Government valualion. The Board called on Higgins io make a declaration under Section 2(i, of the 1900 Act, and Higgins, through his agent, refused, on tlio ground that the 1905 Act impliedly repeals Section 3ii. The Board, therefore, refused jurisdiction, and dismissed the application for approval of the lease. Higgins now applies to the Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus against the president and members of the Board, to compel the Board to hear and determine his application for approval of the lease.