OPENING NATIVE LANDS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 237, 12 November 1909, Page 4

OPENING NATIVE LANDS

THE UOVERNMENT'S POLICV. FAR-REACHINC, ALIENATING ' PKOPOS-iLS. ITIEE SALE OF SURPLUS LANDS. LARUE STATE PURCHASES FORESHADOWED.

The proposals of the ttovenmiciil, with regard to the settlement of Native Lauds, are to be put before the lions' in a measure dealing specially with that important subject, anaounccd the Premier ill hi-' Hudget s| |l 'ecli on Wednesday evening. The Bill is ill part consolidation and an amendment of existing laws, so as to conform to existing conditions, to the present needs of the native rar •, •and to the demands of the Doninion as a whole, 'ihe

CONSOLIDATION all'ects the Staliilrs (public, private, and local) dating back to the year IS7I. 'these do not. contain the whole law relating to Native Lands. It has not hei mud possible to prepare for submission lo Parliament this session, a consolidation ol the special enactments dealing with native reserves administration by the Public Trustee, or witJ lands administration by the commissioner under the East Coast Trust Lands Act, or with lands in thermal springs district, or with lands vested ill the trustee for special purposes. Ii desire lo assure tiie Mouse lii.u a eonsolidauoi of these measures with necessary mod* lications will be introduced early next -ession. so that the w'hole of our statue law relating to native lands will i then be completely revised and brought I up to dale. | FACILITATING TRANSACTION'S.

i.e process of ascertaining native titles and partitioning same into convenient areas will be greatly improved. It is found that the process has been greatly delayed in the past because surveys have' not kept pace with the operations of the, Native Land Court. If is' intended that the Oovernmeut will undertake all future surveys, charging the cost to the native lands affected. The duly will be cast on the Chief Surveyor of completing all surveys required by the Native Land Court or .Maori Land Board. Proper road lines will be laid oil' wherever necessary before partition. Exchanges of interests in native lands for other native lands', or for European or Crown lands will be greatly- facilitated and unhampered except by a condition that the power he not abused, and sales effected under the guise of exchanges. All important feature of the Bill is the proposal to consolidate the scattered interests of individual owners or groups of owners. The court will be empowered to formulaic schemes for Ihe purpose which, after approval by the Governor-in-Council, will operate by way of exchange or otherwise as may be necessary. The question of Hie marriage of natives, adoptions by them, and power of testamentary disposition, will also receive careful consideration.

Dciiling witli the ALIENATION AND SETTLEMENT o£ native binds, the (Jovennnent realise flie importance of this question to the Dominion, anil more particularly to the North Island. Having made provisions relating to the ascertainment of title, elVcctive provisions dealing with settlement have been extended to meet the present requirements, while safeguardin" the interests o( the -Maori owners. It is proposed to

I'IIHCHASK FllOit THE NATIVES as large tin area as possible. To avoid the difficulties of the past, the purchases will, as a rule, he negotiated with the owners assembled in meeting duly convened, and the consent of the majority will conclude the purchase, subject, in certain cases to partition of the interests of dissentients. The system to he established, it is eonlidently hoped, will enable the (iuvuraineiil to protect a proportion of the proceeds of such sales from the extravagance of native vendors', hands now vested in •Maori Land Boards and those about to he vested in accordance with the recommendations of the Native Land Commissioner will be administered practically under the existing system. Ample provision will be made to enable these boards to open binds vested in them for settlement, and advances may he made, being secured on the lands and revenue therefrom. The system oi incorporating owners of native lands for the purpose of alienating or farming their lands will be continued, hut somewhat extended for the purposes of alienation.

ALL UESTBICTTOX'S REMOVED. All existing restrictions mid prohiliiLiuns against alienation will be removed. .V native v,■;.,> is suit- owner of :i defined pirn' of huul may, by upplicanun to tin- .\iitiw Appellate Conn, cuu- ! vert his laud into freehold Kiivopcii-.i liinil. -Maori is defined us u pure Maori, ami includes luilf castes mid persons. iiiLi-i-iiu-clititc in blond between pure Maoris iiml Jmlf castes. Persons interiniediale in blood between half-castes ami European,, art regarded for „|| purposes iu Europeans. Where laml is owned by not more than IU owners, they may sell, lease, or mortgage, but in the last named ease only to the Stall Lending Department or 'to a person authorised by the. (..'ovcrnor-in-Council. Where tkcrc. are more than 10 owners, direct alienation will be permitted hv the Board if satislieil that sigiiakure's ean he obtained with little expense. In other eases, alienation is to be oll'ccted by resolution of the owners assembled in meeting, an adoption of the old time

"runaiiga" system of the M-mris. All alienations wll be subject lo COX'FJRMATIOX BY TiJK HOARDS in Ihe Xortl. Island and by the Court in the South Island. As it is no proposed that the Xntive Land Bill, if passed, should come into operation until the end of March next, the House is to be asked lo make provision for the carrying on of .purchases mid the development of lands vested in Maori Land Boards up to the end of the iinaiicial year,