NATIVE LANDS COMMISSION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2471, 8 April 1909, Page 5

NATIVE LANDS COMMISSION

THE FINAL REPORT

A Press Association message from T ■Wellington states that the Native Lands Commission, in its final report, • declares that the legislation on the j Statute Book, though it urgently re- j quires consolidation and slight amend-"d ment to harmonise conflicting details. ■ is sufficient to settle the Native hinds I of the North Island. The legislature .j - has armed various departments of the State and the Government with ample powers. What is required is prompt and efficient administration. The report points out that unless the State *; - renders liberal assistance in advancing ■ the cost of securing partition orders ;.j£ from the Native. Lands Court and in \*® : providing experts, the settlement of IMB tfio large area covered bv the Coinwis-,-sion's recommendations will be seriously % delayed, and the purpose of the legisla---,; > ture defeated. It was a mistake to . suppose that the present law gives to- : tlie Maori any advantage over lus Enro- v . peaii neighbor so far as lands under ■ lease are concerned. As for local rat- ■ fIH ing. the Commission is of opinion that . the law as at present administered does 1(1} not seem unfair, except in rare eases, T “The Maoris.” states the report, “are realising more and more that they must come under the general local taxation,* of the local bodies under whose jurisdiction they reside, and that in order td | enable them to pay taxes they mustvif utilise their land or alienate them toft ; those capable of utilising the same. ofeij are of opinion that if the had in-the past devoted move attention :] * to making the Maori an efficient far-Sg mer and settler, the problem of local 15 , and general taxtation would long ago,.j - have been solved.” "Cl