WEST COAST RESERVES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 92, 4 September 1912, Page 5

WEST COAST RESERVES.

[ THE POSITION OP THE MAORIS. ' THE PUBLIC TRUSTEE'S VIEWS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent). Wellington, Last Night. On the subject of the West Coast Settlement Reserves, the Public Trustee points out that the question whether those lessees who did not convert within the time limited by statute had been enquired into by a commission, which thought that the natives should not be deprived of the opportunity of obtaining occupation of the land by outbidding the present lessees. It must be remembered, however, he says, that the lands are in a high state of cultivation oy the reserve of capital, industry and skill expended through a long course of years. The natives will profit little by the Dare right to bid, unless they possess both the money to pay for improvements and outgoings and the ability to cultivate the land at its present standard. The , probable result, therefore, in most cases would he to unsettle the lessee without benefiting the native. The total area v involved is about 18,000 acres. "Whatever is to be dona with respect to it," he adds, "I am strongly of opinion that steps should be adopted to utilise the enormous area not now occupied at all by European lessees. Nearly 20,000 acres have been reserved for commonages and kaingas, and are practically idle. In addition to this- nearly 30,000 acres have been reserved for occupation ! by the natives, and for this purpose the practice has been to, issue to them occupation licenses for short periods at low rentals. The experiment has not proved a success. Where the natives occupy they do little to develop the Jand, and in many cases they do not occupy at all, but let Europeans have the use of it upon payment, but without tenure. '"lt would be an excellent thing if a sehenfe were devised under which these areas could he taken up by the natives in small associations, under the management or control of some kind, and with funds advanced by the Public Trustee for the working and stocking. In this way the lands wonkl he brought mto profitable use and the natives would be trained in dairying and farming."