THE MEINERTZ-HAGEN CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2048, 27 November 1907, Page 1

THE MEINERTZ-HAGEN CASE.

A NATIVE LAND TRANSACTION

PAE.LMMENT DOES JUSTICE:

(Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Nor. 23. For some time, past a great dead of interest both in Parliament and outside it lias been evinced m the case o-f Miss Meanertz-Hagen, or Napier, tenant in possession of sorno 18.00 U acres of native land known as tiie AViaimarama Mocks. Ine lease was rendered invalid owing to some technicality and Miss Me met zHagen lias been, pint to a great deal of expense in an endeavor to obtain rights to, which she was morally and in equity ontitled. In a petition to Parliament she states that she has throughout the wliole of the proceedings for the renewal of her leases had to contend with the continued and determined opposition and interference of persons not directly interested in the leases. Petitioner further 'asserted that throughout- ttie whole of the proceedings taken to provent her obtaining her leases, no suggestion had ever been made that any of these leases were improperly obtained and although Airino Donnelly, one of the Native owners, who has not signed the lease, represented bv Mr H. D. Bell and Mr 1. V Lewis, solicitors, and Pam Karauria, oao of the lessors, represented by Mr A. L. D. Fraser, M.8..1U lodged with the To Iharoa District Maori Land Board written objections to the approval of the leases, none of the objections, suggested any improper dealing by her or oil. hei behalf with the Native owners. She claimed that the leases were obtained in good faith and were believed bv petitioner and Tier adviseis to be in accordance with (the provisions oi the Maori Lands Settlement Act, 1905, and the Natives had received in rentals .thereunder, the sum.or about £5.760 in the aggregate. The matter was fully inquired into by the Native Affairs Committee, vlio made • a favorabio [recommendation on 'Miss Moinertz-Hagen’s behalf to the House. Tho Government recognising the justice of her claim, today moved to add a clause to. the Maori “Washing-up” Bill, giving effect to the recommendation of tlio Native Land Royal Committee m tiro matter. .The effect, of the new clause is to validate the leases over an area of 5000 acres of the hind since purchased by the Grown, and to lease the same to Miss MemertzHagen at the rate of 6s per aero per annum, instead of os mentioned in the original list. . . .. Mr A. L. D. Fraser said it would ho indecent on the part of the House to validate any transaction where there was recourse to tho law to have it approved. . . ~ Mr Carroll said this case stood on a different footing. Tho Government were simply giving off ? T ct ,. t ® ,a recommendation by • the Native Land Commissioners. Mr Wilford rose and suggested that the danse should he postponed till nexit year. He wanted to know more about it. , Mr. Massey: I think the lion, gentleman knows -all about it. Mr Wilford : No I don’t. ■'Mr A. L. D. Fraser proceeded to give what he states to be a truthful and unbiassed explanation or the case. He . held that the legislation proposed was brought down on an expert’s statement of a certain person, plus very successful lobbying. While Mr Fraser was elaborating his statement of tho case Mr \\ Ilford interjected, “Money talks. Mr Massey It does. Mr Wilford: Yes, it does,. Mr Massey: It was' talking yesterday and it was talking this afternoon. - ~ , •Mr Fraser weiit- on to say timt todegrams had been received from Natives protesting against this claim. The Natives had never been heard. 'He complained that it was proposed, to lease this land at 6 per cent less till an the. Crown gave for it. He complained also of the attempt being made to pass *1 ecx»u . legislation dealing With tlio case. Mr Carroll again explained that the clause was to. e ff eot to the recommendation of- the'Native Land Commission. 'The interests of the whole of the Natives had been confelMr Wilford, after a consultation ■with Mr Massey, said he had learnt more in ten. minutes from the Leader of the Opposition than from the Minister 'during the whole time. If the- statement of the Leader of the Opposition was true, that the lease was to he re-granted by certain Natives who had -granted tlio lease before, and .that .there was some slip in regard to the lease that was no fault of the lady’s, then it was, quite a different matter. t - Mr f.Ngata (said the recommendation bf the Commission was to lease the land at 7s not 6s an acre. Mr A. L. D.‘ Fraser said tho Goyeriiimen't were li'ot carrying out tiie rccohimendation of the Commission. He said-that they were proposing to give the land ,at 30 per cent less than its value.' .. Mr Carroll, in reply to a question .about the. rent, said that if there had been legal obstruction, . Miss Mcinertz-Hagen would now have been enjoying a lease of 15,000 acres at -5s an' aero. Miss Meinertz-Hagen .should not he deprived of her rights, to i which the Natives Iliad, morally .agreed. She was entitled. to some consideration and the Government had -agreed to split' the difference between the 5s and the 7k. Mir .'Massey read from . the report of, the Commission, which showed that the extreme Value of the la a ! was £7 an acre. He doubted if the rent of 7s an acre, together with t-lio heavy rates, would leave tho lessee any profit, especially with the present drop in the price of wool. ■ Mr Wilford ifiovefP ail- amendment that the agreement be subject to the passing of a resolution by.Parl'amon.t authorising the same. Tie feeling of the House on the matter was shown by the- division, the amendment- being defeated by 45 votes to 3. The three who voted in support of it were Messrs Dillon, A. L. D. Fraser -and Williford. The result of the' division .was received with - hearty ' applause and finally the clause was agreed to on ■the voices. An amendment by Mr Ngata to ■make the rent 7s was lost on the voices. On tlio third reading of the Bill Mr Fraser said this was tho worst piece of jobbery that liad over been perpetrated in any Parliament in the world. The Speaker: The lion', member cannot use that word. Mr Fraser: Then I say •‘duplicity,” t.e Speaker: You cannot use word either.

Mr Fraser agreed not to ucso at. Ho added, “When tho'country'-cads tiie truo report, it will not redound to tho credit of this august assembly. Tho Government did not take tlio lease they wero now validating before their own Courts. Tho Premier saidhe was fully conversant with tho whole circumstances. The matter was one of policy in accordance with the report of a Royal Commission, and in . a matter of policy tho Government must fake tlio responsibility. The Gover.uiiiuut, had to consider the fact that but for a technicality, the absence of a declaration by the lessee, there would have been no trouble. The Government had gone into the matter irrespective of any inilnence whatever, and so far as ho knew there was no improper iniluence of any kind, the Government was only asking the House to do what was right. •Mr Herrics said tlio member for Napier need not talk about a “job.” If there had been a “job ’ it was on the part of the opponents of the lady 'ill* question. _ The third reading of the Bill '> as agreed, to. j Miss Meinertz Hagen,.who is a tail handsome woman, occupied a seat m tlio ladies’ gallery during‘ the whole •of the proceedings. -<• ' Hi -