I.—3a

4

10. I have brought up and cared for my nephew, Dr. Pomare, since about seven years old for the position he now holds in the Health Department under Sir J. Ward. And yet my family and I are not allowed to deal with our own land without being made to feel the indignity of asking to be permitted to use our own land, and made to pay rent for it, as though we were not the owners, and charged 7 per cent, for leasing and collecting. 11. And that the present administration is very irritating and demoralising to our race, being made to feel that they are only owners on sufferance, all feeling of independence and self-reliance, individuality, stripped from them ; and, however much they may wish to occupy and farm the land, the existing state of things above mentioned gives no feeling of encouragement. Your petitioners therefore earnestly pray, — 1. That the existing cruel and arbitrary laws and great power given to the Public Trustee be amended, and the full rights and privileges of British subjects be granted to us, that we may be permitted to lease or otherwise deal with our own lands as we may think most beneficial to ourselves and children. 2. That the said reserve is very small, the largest share being 20 acres, and yet the Public Trustee may choose, under the power he holds, take away half of that and lease it. 3. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that your honourable House will pass legislation in the direction prayed for by your petitioners, and give them and their families the rights of freedom as British subjects. Your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c. Heni te Rau (otherwise Jane Bbown), Kohimarama, Auckland.

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.

Thursday, 18th August, 1904. Kuini Wi Rangipupu examined. (No. 1.) 1. The Chairman.'] Do you wish to say anything with regard to your petition ?—I want to produce some documents. [Document produced.] 2. Mr. A. L. D. Fraser.] This is a lease ?—Yes. 3. It is the lease referred to in the petition and the report of the Public Trustee ? —Yes. 4. And this is the lease upon which you say you are charged 7 per cent. ? —Yes. 5. Although it is your own land leased to you, you are charged 7 per cent. ?—Yes. 6. Have you followed the report of the Public Trustee where he contradicts that statement ? —Yes. 7. He says you are in error as to commission charged. He says, " Seven and a half per cent, commisison is charged on the rents collected from leased lands, and on the lands held by Natives under occupation licenses only 3| per cent, is charged. No commission whatever is charged for collecting rent from the petitioner for the land she holds under lease above mentioned." Mr. Poynton says he does not charge you anything for collecting this rent I—He1 —He collects my rent in the leasehold Mr. Poynton : Mrs. Thompson pays about £16. She gets about £52. Instead of getting the whole lot she is credited with the £16. There is no commission charged. Sir W. R. Russell: She gets a rental of £52 with £16 deducted ? Mr. Poynton: Yes. Sir W. R. Russell: The amount of the rent she has to pay is £16 ? Mr. Poynton: Yes. Mr. A. L. D. Fraser : But Mrs. Thompson states that she pays 7 per cent, on this, too ? Mr. Poynton: That is a misapprehension. She is credited with the rent and the balance is paid to her. Mr. A. L. D. Fraser: Only 1\ per cent, is charged on the balance between £52 and £16 ? Mr. Poynton : Yes. The total amount of rent from the land she is interested in is £80. After paying land-tax, rates, and office commission it comes to £69, and then she is paid that less the rent. Hon. Mr. Carroll: On the rent itself you take nothing ? Mr. Poynton: No. Mr. A. L. D. Fraser : And what is the balance ? Mr. Poynton : It varies. It usually amounts altogether to about £52. Kuini Wi Rangipupu : The Public Trustee charges his commission on the full amount. Then he takes another 7 per cent, on the £16 mentioned in this lease. 8. Hon. Mr. Carroll.] You still adhere to your statement, that he charges you 7 per cent, on the rents due to you, and also 7 per cent, on your own rent ?—Yes. 9. Mr. A. L. D. Fraser.] As to the statement that your interest has not been partitioned, that you just hold with others, is that correct ?—lt was partitioned in 1888, before the Act of 1892, and survey fees and Court fees have been paid by me for myself and others. . 10. For yourself and others ? —Yes ; and all the particulars are in the Native Land Court offices now. 11. You do not quite follow me. Mr. Poynton has stated in his report that you have not had your interest or individual right located. You are only with some others ? —Well, the Public Trustee has located my share of it.