NATIVE LANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 384, 2 June 1915, Page 8

NATIVE LANDS.

THE GOVERNAIEXT'S POLICY. STATEMENT BY THE 'MINISTER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. 'A statement of the present position in regard to the Native land policy of the Government was made by the Minister for Native Allaire, the Hon. VV. 11. Herries, in an interview. In referring to the great activity that has been shown during the past year, Mr. Herries said sections of the 1913 Act which practically amalgamated the Native Land Courts and Maori Land Boards caino into operation on March 31, 11)14. As in the case of all new arrangements, some little time elapsed before full working order was obtained, but in a • very short time the benefit of the, amalgamation was felt, and the system is now working admirably. In Native land purchase considerable progress has been made. An area of !Hi,ooo acres has been purchased during the war and proclamations forbidding private alienation have been issued over another 100,000 acres, the interests in which having been already obtained. Purchases have been and are being made, especially along tlie route of the proposed railways, on the Taurangl-Gisborne line, and on the Napier-Gisborne line. In the latter case the titles of the Waikaremohaka blocks, which have long been a stumbling-block, have been satisfactorily settled by legislation, and large interests have been purchased in the more important of the blocks covering an area of about 15,000 acres. Purchase is going on in the Native, lands north of Gisborne, where leases held by '''rvo'peans are now falling in. Large b'oeks here have been proclaimed, and arc now being purchased, and'they contain some of the finest grazing land in the Dominion, while they are very suitable for cutting up. It is hoped that before long the oast coast will carry a large population of European settlers. Nothing has been done where the Natives are desirous nf farming for themselves and the blocks that have been incorporated by the "Native owners for farming purposes have been exempted from the operations of the 1013 Act. Finality has at last been reached, said Mr. Herries, in the ascertainment of titles to the vast Urcwera country and the Native lands purchase officers have been instructed to continue purchasing any interests that can be purchased in the blocks in which the Crown has already interests. When all the interests that can he purchased have been obtained, the -non-sellers will be cut nut, the blocks surveyed and declared Crown lands. Numerous offers to sell have been received from Native owners in other portions of the Urewera country and the Crown is prepared to deal with those offers provided the price can be agreed upon. Until the Crown has consolidated its interests, it would not be wise to throw open the land for private alienation; indeed, the Btate of the surveys are not far enough advanced to permit of private persons buying. One other great change, the Minister went on to say, is taking place on the west coast of the- North Island, owing -to the operation of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment Act, .1013. The old Parihaka wall has been taken down and the West Coast Reserve has been partitioned by a Court presided over by Judge Jack. By this means the unleascd portion of the reserves can be settled by the owners with a secure freehold title. Besides this, in the IS,OOO acres, the leases of which came due lately, fresh leases have been given to last for ten years, after which the land will revert to.the Maori owners, who will then enjoy the advantages of the partition. Meanwhile, the Crown can purchase, and is only waTting for ' the partition to be completed to deal with the numerous offers for sale that have been received. The same action : is being taken in th« Native township. 1 Steps are being taken to acquire for ! the Crown the freeholds of Otorolianga and a nortion of Taumarunui. Negotiations have been going on with regard I to To Kuiti,