G.—2

1914. NEW ZEALAND.

RESERVES FOR LANDLESS NATIVES: REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY IN REGARD TO THE EXISTING RESERVES FOR LANDLESS NATIVES IN THE SOUTH ISLAND AND IN THE WAIKATO-MANIAPOTO NATIVE LAND COURT DISTRICT, AND AS TO THE DISPOSITION THEREOF.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

COMMISSION. Liverpool, Governor. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to Michael Gilfedder, Esquire, of Wellington, Judge of the Native Land Court, and Henry Douglas Morpeth Haszard, Esquire, of Hokitika, Commissioner of Crown Lands : Greeting. Whereas it is expedient that inquiry should be made with regard to the existing reserves for landless Natives in the South Island and in the Waikato-Maniapoto Native Land Court District, and as to the disposition thereof : Now, therefore, I, Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, and of all other powers and authorities enabling me in this behalf, and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby constitute and appoint you the said Michael Gilfedder, and Henry Douglas Morpeth Haszard to be a Commission to inquire into and report upon the following matters :— (1.) What Crown lands not vested in the Public Trustee have been (a) set apart to make provision for landless Natives in the South Island prior to the passing of the South Island Landless Natives Act, 1906 ; or (b) permanently reserved by Proclamation for the purpose of providing land for the landless Natives of the South Island, under the provisions of the said South Island Landless Natives Act, 1906 ; or (c) since the repeal of that Act, set apart or reserved in the South Island for such purposes. (2.) Whether the lands so set apart or permanently reserved, or any and which of them, have been duly applied for the purposes for which they were so set apart or permanently reserved. (3.) Whether by any process or system of consolidation of reserves or interests or other means, or by exchange for other more suitable or conveniently situated lands, the purposes for which the lands set apart or permanently reserved can be better provided. (4.) Whether the purposes can be better provided by reserves for hapus or families rather than by the appropriation of separate areas to individual Natives.

I-α. 2.