G.—7

1928. NEW ZEALAND.

CONFISCATED NATIVE LANDS AND OTHER GRIEVANCES. ROYAL COMMISSION TO INQUIRE INTO CONFISCATIONS OF NATIVE LANDS AND OTHER GRIEVANCES ALLEGED BY NATIVES (REPORT OF).

Laid on the Table of the Home of Representatives by Command.

COMMISSION TO INQUIRE INTO AND REPORT AS TO GRIEVANCES ALLEGED BY MAORIS. Charles Fergusson, Governor-General. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to the Honourable Sir William Alexander Sim, Kt., of Dunedin, and to the Honourable Vernon Herbert Reed, M.L.C., of Paihai, Bay of Islands, and to William Cooper, Esquire, of Gisborne, Native Associate : Greeting! Whereas under the powers conferred by the New Zealand Settlements Act, 1863, the New Zealand Settlements Act Amendment, 1864, the New Zealand Settlements Amendment and Continuance Act, 1865, and the New Zealand Settlements Acts Amendment Act, 1866 (hereinafter collectively referred to as " the said Acts "), Proclamations and Orders in Council were from time to time made pursuant to which lands therebefore held by Natives became Crown lands freed and discharged from the title, interest, or claim of suoh Natives by reason of the fact that such Natives or some of them had been engaged in rebellion against Her then Majesty's authority, the purpose of the said Acts being (as recited in the said New Zealand Settlements Act, 1863) that it was necessary that adequate provision should be made for the permanent protection and security of the well-disposed inhabitants of both races, for the prevention of future insurrection or rebellion, and for the establishment and maintenance of Her Majesty's authority and of law and order throughout the colony, the best and most effectual means of attaining those ends being the introduction of a sufficient number of settlers able to protect themselves and preserve the peace of the country : And whereas provision was made by the said Acts for compensation to be granted to all such persons as had any title, interest, or claim to any land taken under the said Acts ; excluding from any such compensation the classes of persons defined in section five of the New Zealand Settlements Act, 1863 ; such compensation being ascertained in the manner provided by the said Acts by the awards of Compensation Courts or by the Government, and being granted either in money, or in scrip, or by grant of land :

I.—G. .7.