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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 112, 1 November 1911, Page 4

WEST COAST LEASES. When the Native Land. Claims Adjust- " » Ml was before- the Houfchst , e ' t ,c mc mber for Kgmont tried' to get a clause inserted to have the portion of the West Coast, Settlement lessees reconsidered with- a view to Jjv ing tliem .perpetual right of renewal ihe proposal was resisted b v the Maori members, and was lost on the voices Sir James Carroll said he was prepared "to lepeatlns offer of a commission to enquire into the position of the lenses though, he remarked, it had been refused when previously made. He would, he added, lcarc it to the commission to decide upon a fair compensation for improvements. The . Taranaki members were, in our opinion, ill-advised not to immediately accept the offer for the setting up of a commission. The subject is, without doubt, one for investigation by ii commission. The Maori kind question of Taranaki is a difficult one and is quite distinct" from the Maori land question of other parts. In round figures there arc about 200,000 acres of land in Taranaki nominally belonging to the Maoris, nearly all of which is leased to Europeans, the rents going to the Public Trustee, who distributes, after deducting cost of administration, the money to the Maoris. A big proportion of the leases will be falling in shortly, and the Maoris desirt that they shall not again be leased, but individualised for their own use. Much of the land is amongst the most valuable in Taranaki, and naturally the lessees and sub-lessees are not desirous of'surrendering their occupation, even at a considerably enhanced valuation. The holders of the newer lease, those eonverted under the Act of'lßo2, are in a fairly strong position, inasmuch as they receive on expiry of their leases full compensation for all improvements, that is. in the event of their being dis-atisfied with the new valuation and the leose passing to another party, who has to find the cash to pay for the improvements before lie can take possession. The holders of the old lease are in a different position. They are paid for their improvements of a permanent character J 'only up to an amount of £.> per acre. The lessees claim the same right to eonvert their leases to leases under the Act of 1802 as existed up to the year 1000. and subject to and on exactly the same terms whcreiincler lessees could convert up to such year. There is a further class amongst the lessees who claim special relief. They are those who purchased under the belief that they were acquiring l all improvements without limitation. It will thus be seen that the lessees are dissatisfied with the position, as well as the nominal owneim of the land. This ibeing the case, and having reference to the involved nature

of the position and the fact that many of the leases will be falling in.shortly,'the best thing that could be done would be investigation by a eonimission comprising representatives ot the lessees, the natives and the Government. Whilst the Maori owners must be treated with absolute fairness and justice, the interests of the country must be taken into account. Under the present tenancy most of tho Maori land in question has been highly improved and its productivity is a very considerable factor in the welfare of the province. It is a common belief that if the land falls back into the hands ot the Maoris it will speedily revert into a state of disuse, unproductivity and menace to the surrounding lands. That there is warrant for this belief is apparent by the deplorable state of a great deal of the land at present in the occupation of natives in different parts of the province. Why, it is asked, if the Maoris are honestly desirous of entering into possession of their leased lands, and ! individually working them, do they not evince an 'earnest by cultivating the lands they already possess? There is, it •has to be acknowledged, sonie truth in the answer that the land is still communal, and consequently offers no alluring inducement to the energetic and goahead Maori to farm for the benefit of his indolent tribal 'partners. As we said in yesterday's issue, there are instances in the province where the Maori, on his own, is making a success of dairying, but we are far from being convinced that the Maoris as a whole are sufficiently alive to the responsibilities that resumption of the present leased land would involve to make them successful farmers. 'A start first of all ishoufid. t\>. made with individualising the land the Maori already possesses, and when he makes a success of farming it he will shave established a fair case for consideration in the matter of resuming the confiscated property to which he is now laying claim. The subject is an important one, and should be tackled by a commission without delay. In not taking advantage of the offer of the Government to establish such a commission the Taranaki members did not show much regard for those of their constituents who are affected and are seeking relief. Perhaps the member* will have something to say in explanation of their conduct iu connection with this matter during the next few weeks.