The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] THURSDAY OCTOBER 17, 1901.

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1075, 17 October 1901, Page 2

The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] THURSDAY OCTOBER 17, 1901.

There is perhaps no matter of greater importance to the colony than . that some means shall be devised for providing machinery for bringing native land into cultivation This can only be done by lease or sale to Europeans. The Act passed last session has been found practically unworkable, and in consequence an Amendment Bill is before Parliament. One of the difficulties was the objection of the natives to some of the boundaries of districts, the Amendment Bill gives the power to the Governor-in-Council to alter any of the boundaries if they think it advantageous to do so. The Bill provides that so soon as the Act comes into operation in a district, Maori land in that district is not to bo alienated by way of lease either to the Crown or any person except with the consent of the Council, and in accordance with the provisions of the Act. In the case of alienations by way of sale where the laud belongs to more than two owners the consent of the Governor-in-Council must be first obtained. In the case of alienation, where the land belongs to not more than two owners, the passing of the Act is not to have effect unless the land is transferred to the Council. Clause 24 provides that all dalings must be in accordance with equity and good conscience, and that the consideration has been paid. The Council is empowered to hold land by trust, by which any Maori or Maoris, whether incorporated or not, may only transfer the same by way of trust to the Council. In the original Act there was a proviso that in the case of unincorporated owners all the owners must execute the transfer. Now it is proposed that at least ten must execute or all the owners, it less than ten. The time for the completion of lawful private dealings is extended by the Bill. Any such dealings may be at any time within twelve months from the date of the first meeting of the Council, instead of after the coming into operation of the Act, and a transaction may be completed with the Maori owners instead of by the Council on behalf of the Maori owners, but the consent of the Council to the completion of the transaction must be first obtained. The Bill proposes that a Maori may alienate land if he has issued to him a certificate by a Judge of the Native Land Court that he has sufficient other land for the purpose of a papa kiauga. It it provided that alienations shall be liable to native land stamp duty if commenced before the passing of the Act or effected without the intervention of the Court.

It appears to us that the Bill will facilitate matters. The difficulty of boundaries of districts can now be adjusted at the discretion ot Ministers. Ample provision is made that the natives shall not become landless and a burden on the State, and any transaction is to be in accordance with equity. The duty of securing that this shall be the case is imposed upon the Government, but aside from this the Maori Councils afford good security that this will be the case.