SETTLEMENT OF NATIVE LANDS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 22 April 1907, Page 2

SETTLEMENT OF NATIVE LANDS

COMMISSIONERS' IXTKUIM liKl'Ojfi' ! IiEC'OM'MENDATIUXB COYEUIXU TWO LAIiCIC ISI.OCKS. ISI'SINESS-UKK t'KOt'OSALS. l'cr Press Association. ,:n Wellington, April 21. si Sir liobert Stout and Mr. at M.I 1.11., Native Land Commissioners, I. liltvc torwarded to the (iovernor two 111 interim reports 011 the investigations .V they have lately completed in connection 'l' with the native lauds in the Uawke's ei liny ami Poverty Bay districts. tl 'rite conclusion they have come to p that I lie mode ul' dealing with native t lands in the puM. has not heen lienelieial f tn tin 1 natives nor to l.nmpealls desiring I tn obtain land tor settlement, nor to e the State. i Willi reference to the Waimarania I 1 block, thev recommend that the llovern- v • ment, which has already purchased I 1 .■.even thousand acres for European set- I I lenient, should make further purchases; I 1- that part of the laud should lie divided < i among certain native claimants; that I the daughter of the original lessee should l f be allowed to lease four thousand acres ] at 7s per a ere, and that the. area assign- ' - ed to Arini Donnelly should lie increased ;i to 3438 acres. The accounts of the origit nal lessees showed that during the last 0 thirteen years the lessees made a profit if only in the last three years. ), Tin l . Coniniisisoiiers consider that if .0 they are bound by the terms of this Com;s mission to inquire into (lie profits made ; c by the holders of native lauds in _ iiawke's Bay anil other districts, they |. will be assisted by those who have held !t, or arc holding native lands on leases, p. The second report, dated March 22,. a deals with blocks totalling 01,703 acres le in the Wairoa County. Thee has been c . protracted anil costly legislation to as--1(| certain and allocate titles, and the holiln. ings arc so cut up and scattered as to 1' make it impossible to apportion the iuterest of each of the owners. To do so j„ would result in owners paying the value 1 of the laud several times over. In the A. JJulmka block particularly, there lias ' been a mania for sub-division. The wishes of the Maoris themselves are slated by the Commissioners to be—- , to lease to some of themselves, tile ma'•v jority of the lessees being heads of famis,' lies or connected by marriage with own- '' ers. 2. Small families, whose interests ' s are allocated, desire to continue in ocetipation. 3. In few eases, owners preferred to lease to the highest bidder. 4. Small areas to be reserved. The report recommends that a staff of V surveyors be detailed for the necessary lls work at once. Observations on such questions as ap;1" portiomnent of survey charges, taxes, nI " iiiibilities, keeping down weeds and rahbits, etc., are reserved for the general !w report. fn schedules are given reeommendaHe tions 011 each block which the report ng summarises as follows: — ■he Area proposed for reserves, 2445 ltd acres. ml Area proposed for family farms, inme dividual owners, and counties, 11,1)30 ir.s acres. he Area proposed to he leased to Maori ity tenants, 34,248 acres, lo- Area suitable for general settlement, re- unconditional, 0041 acres; conditional, lay -1103 acres. toil Area proposed to be leased to Eurois- peans, 1780 acres. • as Area unsuitable for settlement, 1152 ill acres. (O. Under these proposals, the Comniisrv sioners say over 200 natives will be pat | c ',l 011 their own land, with good titles to eT fair-sized holdings. I'liey add that if the j e ' 9 District Maori Laud Board were per--1! l. liiitted to grant leases to Maori tenants specified by owners, or to issue occupation licenses or certificates of partner- . ship, or incorporation to individual owners, families or keepers, there would be no necessity for further legislation.