NATIVE LAND QUESTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2579, 13 August 1909, Page 5

NATIVE LAND QUESTION.

FURTHER STATEMENT BY THE ACTING-PREMIER.

ANCIENT CUSTOMS TO BE OVERRIDDEN TO FACILITATE SETTLEMENT.

(Per Press Association.)

.WELLINGTON, August 12./ Amplifying the.suggestions he threw out at Papawai the other day for improvements so as to facilitate individual ism in regard to Native lands, the Hon. J. Carroll, Native Minister, stated today :

. “With regard to partitions, provision will be made whereby on the partition of any large block a proper roading scheme will be furnished to the Court before it parcels out the land amongst the owners. Native custom will be disregarded by the Court, except where a block has been awarded to a tribe, and this has been subdivided amongst the hapus or sub-tribes composing the tribe. The purpose is to partition so that on completion by survey the various parcels are roaded for settlement either by alienation, or by sale or lease or by the owners themselves effectively occupying on a good title. “As to succession, it is proposed to make an important departure from Native custom, or rather Native custom as defined from time to time by the Court, so as to secure uniformity of practice. Rules of succession will be formulated for the guidance of the Court. lam now considering the English law of succession. If a wholesale adoption of it will prevent the undue congestion of Native lands titles, it will be wholly adopted. At any rate, there will be as close an assimilation as is possible under present circumstances. I would be strongly opposed to a violent departure from Native custom at the present time. It is proposed that the Court be given discretion to select from amongst the next of kiu in the same degree of relationship to the deceased those who on account of other considerations have greater claims. When the successors are determined to a deceased person who is the owner in other blocks, the duty will be thrown on the Court of allocating or distributing these amongst the successors. The most valuable effect will be from the point of view of the Maoris, who will be educated to make their arrangements for partition and sucession with a view t-o the easy utilising of the land.

To approach towards the idea of individualism, it is necessary to consolidate scattered interests. I think myself that this is more important even than partition. It can be effected by exchange, but the exchange to be of much use has to be done on a wholesale scale affecting very many different blocks and different owners. The ordinary process of exchange will be quite ineffective for the purpose. It cannot be made sufficiently elastic, but exchanges now being carried out require in the promoters a high degree of business intelligence. I propose, therefore, that the Court be empowered to entertain schemes that may be submitted to it by the Natives of any locality or district for the consolidation of their interests. There will be a series of exchanges between individuals, families, hapus, or any number of Natives conveniently grouped according to their present relationship. The titles to many blocks will require to be amended, and many existing partitions will have to be wiped out or amended. Such an extensive undertaking will require the assistance of experts from the Land and Survey and Valuation Department. As the expense will be heavy, I do not think it will he too much to ask the State to assist in unravelling the difficulties, for necessarily a heavy expenditure will fall upon the owners affected. The scheme, when fully matured, should be submitted to the Governor-in-Council for approval, and an Order-in-Council approving of the' scheme should make it effective and operative. It then becomes necessary to call upon the several Departments of the State to carry out the details. Many registers will require to be amended, aud the orders of the Native Land Court and surveys altered.”