NATIVE LAND LEASES.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1922, Page 4

NATIVE LAND LEASES.

POSITION IN THE KING COUNTRY, SUB-DIVISION SOUGHT. By Telegraph.—Picks Association. Wellington, Last Night. The difficulties being experienced by European settlers holding large areas of wative land under lease were brought under the notice of the Minister of Native Affairs to-day by a deputation representing leaseholders in the King Country and the surrounding districts. The Hon. Sir Maui Pomare and the members representing the various districts affected were also present. The views of the leaseholders were presented by Mr. J. N. Boddie, chairman of, the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, also of Te Kuiti, who asked that legislation be passed to enable lessees of native lands to sub-divide their leasehold interests, and that the Maori Land Board be authorised to accept surrender of existing leases arid issue separate leases for the respective sub-divisions. It was desired that new leases should be granted for the unexpired term of the existing leases and on the same conditions as the old leases. The Minister stated that he would look into the question and submit it to a conference of Native Land Court Judges to be held in Wellington towards the end of the present month for their consideration. He and Sir Maui Pomare would then take an opportunity of looking further into the question and determining whether legislation, as asked for, should be introduced.