NATIVE LAND LAWS COMMISSION

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2919, 31 March 1891, Page 2

NATIVE LAND LAWS COMMISSION

Wiit'.x M'.ssrs W, li. Rees, M il K., and Thomas Mackay, uvnnbers of the above commission, met the natives last Wednesday morning, they miked tiie.n to hold a meeting and discuss tn: o-ijnots of the coiitniwsion, and then to appoint one or their number to represent them, «-ho would lay their grievances before the commissioners, and also suggest what they considered the best methol of dealing with native lauds and y mens other letters connected therewith. A numerously-attended and lengthy meet in" was Iwlcl, wo helicon that uoat'lv every Maori in Cambri be u-h Urgent, dud it w;ia utuuinnjiu.y r.t.il- LVjjuiu: lOUoioit'j jihoiiM lay y* 6 ] 1 ' ■ views b 'fore the commissioners. This he did before the afternoon sitting of the commission in a clear and forcible speech. He commenced bv drawing attention to various Acts that the nat ives considered should be altered, and first referred lo "Tlr ftiu.p Act ISSI. ivh'-iebv natives who sell or lease laud arc charg.d 10 per cent, on its value, while I'hirop. .iiu; are only ehar-ed onehalf per t« lit. Tl.j Maoris objected to pay twenty times as much as Europeans, ii nil they asked to be put on an footing in this matter. Ile then spoke o Sections 1-Jaud t!l of "The Native Land Court Act ISBS," by which the court has orders to sub-divide land that has passed throii'di it, whether the natives liked it or not. lie asked to have these sections repealed, as it put the Maoris to great expense. He also asked to have Section 15 of this Act repealed, which phces restrictions over the Kobe L'otae I,lock. He referred to " The North Island Mam Trunk Railway Loan Aet 1881)," and said Section j of it should be repealed, as also should the " Amendment Act I SS9 ' of " Ttie Native Lands Frauds Aet 1 SSI. He then referred to Crown and native lands taxes. He said the County Conned made taxes and the natives did not understand what they were for, or any thin" about them. The Councils appeared to levy the taxes and the Government collected them, but the natives did not appear to benefit from them, 110 nui'cested that a Maori member should be°cleeted on each County Council that had native lands in its district ; they would then have more confidence in such Councils. The commissioners had asked them if they were satisfied with the present Laud Courts, or if they would prefer an alteration being made. Ihe reply of the natives was that they wished it to romaia as it is-with certain slight modifications, which he would refer to later on—because in ISS-t commissioners were appointed for certaiu districts, who had power to deal with native difficulties'. A great amount of work was done in the settlements, but it was no good ; there were always some dissatisfied, and they appealed to the court. At present the natives could settle their difficulties auiouf'st themselves, if they so chose, and then come to the court to have the matter finally settled, so he. on behalf of the Ngatimauiapoto, NgaMniukawa and Ngatituwharetoa tribes, who had chosen him to represent tlwm, inked to have the Native Laud Courl remain in its present form. There \vere_ several miuor matters that needed altering ; the Land Court foes of £1 per day should be reduced by half, and the claimant should not be compelled to pay every day, but should be put on the same footing as the counter-claimant. The fee for application for re-bearing was also too large. The commissioners had suggested t.iat native lands shoald be leased instea.. o. soil, and that a coinmitte of natives and a commissioner should be appointed for cacti district, to make roads and manage matters To this suui'estion the natives did not agree. He (iopeiic) thought it would perh ips hive work-d in the for d lys, when a clue! was a chief but it would not do now, when everyone was for himself. IVpei.e then concluded, after which several Mior.s retailed iudividu.il grievances uuder which they suli'ered. It is gratifying to liud iron, the above speech that the Maoris arc satislied with the Native Laud Court as at present constituted. There always have, and always will be detccts to be found in any system of dealing with native lauds, but we do not think the method suggested by the commissioners would prove more workable than the present, eourse.