MAORI LANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 314, 14 February 1910, Page 6

MAORI LANDS.

GRIEVANCES OVER SHORT LEASES.

Big preparations are in hand for the , meeting of natives to be opened at tiie I Xormanby road pah on the 14th instant to discuss matters in connection with I the leasing of Maori lands (says the I Manaia Witness). Tribes' from all parts 'of Xew Zealand have intimated their { intention to be present. South Island land other distant tribes will send dele--1 gates, but those living between WaiI totara and the White Cliffs will be 1 present in force—whole families will be transported to the scene of the meet- ] ing. The big Maori house at the pah is to be reserved for visiting natives, and local people will provide their own tents. It is' estimated that the attendI ance will number four thousand on the | principal day (the 18th instant), when I the Premier and the Hons. J. Carroll l and Xgata will be present. In order j to house and feed this small colony of j Maoris it will be necessary to erect . plenty of canvas and provide an abun- ■ dant supply of food. The tents are I being pitched, and cartloads of Hour, potatoes, meat, etc., are daily being | taken to the meeting-place. The comJ mittee e „pect to handle over a thou- , sand pounds to pay for the provisions, while in addition much will be received by way of gifts'. The chief grievance of the natives is in regard to the short leases, and in this connection they are determined . upon securing what they consider to be a just demand. It seems that after the first confiscation of Maori lands which were placed under the control of the Public Trust Office for permanent leases, a second confiscation was made and the land used for short leases. The Maori owners complain that they do not get a fair amount for rent. It is stated that some land in this district, j fetching £1 a n acre, yields to the owners only 2s 6d an acre. A typical case may be cited. Old Manaia left 1 3000 acres at his death, and of this 300 acres was 1 handed over for occupation by the relatives (there are .six families) and the balance of 2700 is under short lease. The six families have thus a 450-aere share, which is stated to bring in only £72 a year—about 5s per acre for some of the best land on the Plains of an estimated value of £4O an acre. The owners naturally feel that, this is l a paltry sum to draw from such a valuable bit of farming country. °

The remedy suggested is that all the land on short leases should be handed over to the owners on the expiration of ttie present leases —that they should have the right of either occupation, lease, or sale without the intervention of the Public Trust Office. In all some '47,0(10 acres ar e involved in Taranaki.