The Waikato Times. SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1877. THE NATIVE LANDS ACT.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 774, 2 June 1877, Page V

The Waikato Times.

SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1877. THE NATIVE LANDS ACT.

Kuual and exact jw*tico to rII men, Ofwtiatever stale or jiorsuattiou, religious or political * # # * #i

lioro shall the Pros^ the' Propi.b's- right mamtnin. Unaweii l)y infl nonce and a a bribed by gain

The new measure drawn un by the Attorney - Gep<;ral, Mr Whitakei', with the advice of Mr Fent.oll, has been submitted at the Cabinet meetings lattly held iu'Weliingtou, and adopted without alteration, The existing Act, we learn, is repealed outright, -and the genoral scheme is S'tid to be a return to the policy of, IBGS with amendments suggested by the exporience gained since that period. The Government, for a third, arid, yre trust, last time, have resolved to. abstain from all interference with the land market, arid will leave speculation therein to the general public. When once certificates of title shall have been issued to native owners they may sell or lease to whom they please. This much of interference is necessary, or otherwise complications, with respect to lands purchased, would be certain to arise on questions of disputed title between the natives themselves. The. only restriction m the free disposal of their lands by tho natives ,is made m respect'tomortgages. 'These are forbidden, and we can well understand that this was necessary m ;tho interests of native owners.

.;• The general scheme of the Bill, which wo are ..alone m posession of, is excellent. The idea appears to be to give the native owners of land the same freedom of treatiug with their land as- they possess m dealing with their other goods, that of polling it to the best advantage. Under the plea of protecting the native laud owner, preceding Governments have raised up a monopoly which placed him entirely at their mercy, and hence the cause of all our misunderstanding with the Maoris and the. source of native suspicion, isolation and disaffection. The ' Bill seonres for the Maori, absolute freedom m the exercise of his territorial rights, and absolute freedom of his. land from Government; monopoly under any guise. The cost of determining title <fee., will beX>aid by a duty of 20 per cent ad valorem on the value of the land transferred from a native to a JUuropean. That the Billis perfeetorfaulty m detail we cannot of course say tiil we receive it, but our readers will agree with with us ia saying that sa far as we have been enabled to enlighten them on its provisions, it is calculfited to givo satisfaction to both races alike, and to do much to produce a healthier and better feeling between them.