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1888. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE VIEWS ON NATIVE LAND LEGISLATION.

Laid on the Table by the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson, with the Leave of the House.

BILL FORWARDED TO THE HON. THE NATIVE MINISTER AS REPRESENTING THE WISHES OP THE NATIVES ON NATIVE-LAND LEGISLATION. The law as framed at Putiki, at the meeting of chiefs and tribes of the North Island. This is to set forth tho points which were completed by the meetings held in this Island—viz., at Waioniatatini, Omaatm, Waitangi—and were agreed to. A BILL INTITULED An Act to amend the Native Land Court Act and the Native Land Act. Whebkas it is desirous that an Act should be passed to assist and manage the interests of the Maoris of the North Island: Be it enacted by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : — 1. The Short Title of this Act is "The Native Land Administration Act, 1888." 2. This Act shall come into force on the of , 18 . 3. " Committee" means i. " Native" means aboriginal natives of the North Island, and includes half-castes and their issue by Maoris. Schedule. 1. "Tho Native Land Court Act, 1886," "The Native Land Administration Act, 1886," the Native Land Rating Act, and the Native Succession Act are hereby repealed; but some parts of the Native Land Court Act may be left open as far as to allow the Maori Committees to assist in settling disputed lands. 2. Although great benefit is likely to be derived from the uniting of the Europeans and Maoris, it is not yet clear that the laws should apply equally to both races at the present time, as it is uncertain how the Natives would be able to support themselves. 3. The Maori Committees, as appointed under "The Native Committees Act, 1883," shall be empowered to act as the Native Land Court, and to have the same jurisdiction as the said Court. " The Native Committees Act, 1883," shall be so amended that the said Committees shall be released from the control of the Government, and that the Chairman shall have the power, with his Committee, to deal with cases according to Native custom when any future Native Land Court Acts are being passed. The Committee to decide such matters as they may see clear. 4. The Committee shall have power to adjudicate upon subdivision cases, and decide thereon. 5. Natives shall have full authority to deal with their own lands as to sale, lease, or otherwise. 6. Provided that the foregoing provision shall not validate any sale or lease, or other alienation made by Any Native who has not sufficient land remaining for the support of himself and heirs ; Any minority of owners of any land held by any number of owners before their interests have been subdivided, or unless the majority of owners have agreed thereto ; and no sale shall be valid unless there remain 200 acres to them. The sale of land the title to which has not been ascertained shall be invalid, except that any lease or arrangement made by the persons owning the land shall be valid. It shall not be lawful to obtain possession of any such land in satisfaction of debts. 7. Until a portion of the land has been set apart as a reserve for the use of the people and their children, that it may not be sold, but only leased. 8. That the law may protect the Maoris in their dealings, and that fraudulent purchases may be guarded against. 9. All leases shall be written out in the Maori language, and any Maori signing must sign tho Maori translation thereof, and the Trust Commissioner shall examine the English thereof, and sign his approval thereon. 10. Agreements made between persons of the Native race shall be valid as to leases, &c, and shall be transacted in the same manner as if to a European, and such documents must be testified to by a Judge.

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11. Whereas there are numbers of Maoris in this colony who are destitute of laud owing to the confiscations in the North Island and the Government land-purchases, and by reason of the decisions of the Native Land Court, it is just that such persons should be supplied with land ; and this provision shall apply to Tawhiao and his people who have suffered by those means. 12. Whereas certain lands were given for school purposes for the benefit of the people, and also for sites for Government buildings, and many lands are held under those gifts, and it is right that such lands should be returned to the Maoris, since the purposes for which those gifts were made have not been fulfilled. Roach. 13. The Governor may order the Comity Councils to apply to the Maori owners, before laying off any roads upon Maori lands, to suggest the lines of such roads, and, if possible, let the making of such roads to Natives upon such compensation being paid as may be agreed between the Maori owners and the County Council; and no roads shall be made until the consent of the Native, owners shall have been obtained. Dog-tax. The dog-tax shall not be in force in Maori districts. [Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1,275 copies), 19s. 6d. 1

Authority: Geobou Didsbury, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBB.