CLOSER SETTLEMENT FOR MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9047, 13 March 1908, Page 5

CLOSER SETTLEMENT FOR MASTERTON.

DEPUTATION TO THE NATIVE MINISTER. CLAIMS OF THE DISTRICT i URGED. I POSITION OF BISHOP'S RE--1 SERVE DISCUSSED. Advantage was taken of the presence in Masterton, yesterday, of the Native Minister (Hon. J. Carroll) by a deputation, which waited upon him to again urge the claims of Masterton to the consideration of the Government in the matter of closer settlement. The deputation was composed of Messrs A. W. Hogg, M.P., J. M. Coradine (Mayor), John Mackay and Cr J. Pauling. Mr Mackay, who was the first speaker, said the first matter which the deputation desired to bring under the Minister's notice was one respecting which he (Mr Carroll) was the most appropriate personage in the Cabinet to approach, and that was the question of the taking over by the Government of the native leaseholds across the Rumahanga river from Masterton, lying partly in the Wangaehu valley. Mr Mackay said these leases were at the point of expiration, and as the area of land comprised in them was a matter of some 11,000 acres, it was a matter of very considerable moment to Masterton that the Government should in some way deal with the lands in such a manner that closer settlement could be promoted, while at the same time the interests of the native owners should be conserved. The speaker said that the time had arrived for immediate action if the Government intended to study the wishes of the people of the district, as already, Mr Mackay said, overtures had been made to the native lessors by one large lessee to cancel the present lease and grant a further one for twenty-one years. There was no desire whatever to deprive the natives of the fee simple —in fact the district would consider its interests amply served if tha Government would lease the land on behalf of the natives in small allotments. Mr Coradine endorsed Mr Mackay's remarks. He said that where there were some half-a-dozen or so occupiers of the land now a hundred families might be settled. Mr Pauling, in support of the request, pointed out to the Minister that the land was eminently suitable fcr subdi"iding purposes, and some portions of the native leaseholds in the Wangaehu valley equalled the best land in the whole Wairarapa.

Mr Hogg said that as far as the present holders of,the land were concerned it was only fair to say that on their part they had done their duty as far as improving the land wa3 concerned, and, moreover, they had paid the natives well for it. The lessees considered that their claims to special consideration should not be 'entirely 'ignored if the leases were taken over by the Government, as they looked at it in the light that tbey had considerably improved the land, and made it worth its present value. The speaker thought there was little doubt that the Commissioners would recommend Uiat the leases be put up for auction, in which case the matter might not be so bad for the present lessees. They did not, however, desire to be in the position of the crofters in Scotland, who, after they . considerably improved their leaseholds, were swept off their holdings by the landlords. Messrs Ccradine and Pauling considered that in the event of the Government doing as the deputation asked the putting up to auction of the leaseholds was only a fair thing for all concerned.

The Minister gave the deputation a sympathetic hearing, stating that he would at once bring the matter before the Native Lands Commissioners, Sir Robert Stout and Mr A. T. Ngata, M.P. He said he would request these gentlemen, who were specially constituted authorities in matters of the kind, to visit Masterton, and see the land, and make all necessary inquiries into the position. The Native Land Departmenthad, he said, absolute power to act immediately on the recommendations of the Commissioners. Mr Mackay then introduced the question of the cutting up of the 190 acres or thereabouts of the land adjoining the railway line at Masterton known as Bishop's Reserve. Several petitions had already been forwarded to the Government in respect of the subdivision of this estate for workers' homes, as the land was an eyesore to the town, and a serious check on its expansion. The land was occupied at present by one or two lessees, and the history of the reserve was.,one which would be of interest to the Minister. It appeared that some 55 years ago Bishop Selwyn had induced the natives to vest the land in the church as a trust, the church in return to erect a school, a church and a flourmill. Needless to say none of these promises had been fulfilled, atid the Native beneficiaries, on their part, were prepared to allow the Government to take over the land, and the capital realised from its sale could be held by the Government in trust for the natives, who would be content to receive the current rate of interest. The Minister said that this question was an involved one, and to interfere with church trusts, however badly observed, had been shown by experience to be ari unsuccessful policy. It was one of those matters which needed Parliamentary action, and this, of course, was a big question. Mr Carroll said that the position of the Bishop's Reserve had been discussed by the Cabinet in conjunc- | tion with the Te Aute. Porirua and other trusts, but it was recognised that the lands embodied in them were not capable of resumption in the ordinary sense. These trusts had been created in the days when the church virtually predominated over the State, and now it was a difficult matter to upset them. The Mayor pointed out that part; of the reserve—some three and a-half , acres—was desired by the borough as a site for the new carbonising plant for the gasworks, and it was thought that the land could be resumed under the Public Works Act. The Minister said he was doubtful about how the Public Works Act applied to lands held in such a trust. Mr Mackay contended that if a piece could be taken under the Pub-

lie Works Act the whole area could be resumed.

The Minister agreed with this, and advised the Council to prosecute its claim persistently, and the public also in respect of the resumption of the land for the general benefit of the community. Every claim made in this behalf strengthened the hands of the Government in the event of action being taken to abolish the trust. The awkward position lay in the fact that the Maoris had only the equitable estate.

Mr Mackay said that when he had put the matter before the late Premier, MrSeddon, it was practicable for the Government to take the reserve. Mr Seddon referred to th<! Porirua Trust to say that had the Privy Council known the exact position of New Zealand legislation bearing on trusts the decision of the New Zealand Courts would never have been reversed. The Minister confessed to be doubtful of this contention'. He said that the strong ecclesiastical nature of the Privy Council held even Parliamentary enactments in disfavour and personally he was not impressed with the position if it relied solely upon the Privy Council's award. After a further short discussion the deputation withdrew, after heartily thanking the Minister for his courteous and sympathetic hearing.