204
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 6

Commission to inquire into Question of Native Lands and Native-land Tenure.

PLUNKET, Governor.

To all to whom these presents shall come, and to Sir Robert Stout, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Chief Justice of the Dominion of New Zealand; and to Jackson Palmer, Esquire, Chief Judge of the Native Land Court: Greeting.

WHEREAS there are large areas of Native lands of which some are unoccupied and others partially and unprofitably occupied: And whereas it would be for the benefit of the Natives themselves and to the advantage of European settlement if prompt and effective provision were made whereby such lands should be profitably occupied, cultivated, and improved: And whereas for the purpose of inquiring and reporting as to the best methods to be adopted in the premises, certain Commissioners were appointed by the Governor in Council on the twenty-first day of January, one thousand nine hundred and seven: And whereas the said Commissioners have made several reports in the premises, but have not finally completed their inquiries: And whereas by virtue of section fifty-two of “The Native Land Settlement Act, 1907,” the powers and functions of the said Commissioners ceased on the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred and nine: And whereas it is expedient that provision should be made to complete such inquiries: And whereas it is also expedient that provision should be made for the consolidation of the various Acts relating to Native lands and Native affairs:

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by “The Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908,” and of all other powers and authorities enabling me in that behalf, I, William Lee, Baron Plunket, the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby appoint you, the said

Sir Robert Stout and
Jackson Palmer,

to be a Commission to inquire and report as to the following matters—

1. What areas of Native lands there are which are unoccupied or not profitably occupied, the owners thereof, and, if in your opinion necessary, the nature of such owners’ titles and the interests affecting the same.

2. How such lands can best be utilised and settled in the interests of the Native owners and the public good.

3. What areas (if any) of such lands could or should be set apart—

(a.) For the individual occupation of the Native owners, and for purposes of cultivation and farming.

(b.) As communal lands for the purposes of the Native owners as a body, tribe, or village.

(c.) For future occupation by the descendants or successors of the Native owners, and how such land can in the meantime be properly and profitably used.

(d.) For settlement by other Natives than the Native owners, and on what terms and conditions, and by what modes of disposition.

(e.) For settlement by Europeans, on what terms and conditions, by what modes of disposition, in what areas, and with what safeguards to prevent the subsequent aggregation of such areas in European hands.

4. How the existing institutions established amongst Natives and the existing systems of dealing with Native lands can best be utilised or adapted for the purposes aforesaid, and to what extent or in what manner they should be modified.

For all the purposes aforesaid you are hereby empowered to continue and complete the inquiries commenced by the aforesaid Commissioners.

And you are hereby enjoined to make such suggestions and recommendations as you may consider desirable or necessary with respect to the foregoing matters, and generally with respect to the necessity of legislation in the premises, including the preparation of a draft Bill, embodying your suggested legislation, and consolidating the existing enactments relating to Native lands and the affairs of Natives. In the preparation of the said Bill you are directed to proceed on the lines indicated in “The Reprint of Statutes Act, 1895,” with such modifications as you deem necessary.

And, with the like advice and consent, I do further appoint you, the said

Sir Robert Stout,

to be Chairman of the said Commission.

And for the better enabling you, the said Commission, to carry these presents into effect you are hereby authorised and empowered to make and conduct any inquiry under these presents at such times and places in New Zealand as you deem expedient, with power to adjourn from time to time and from place to place as you think fit, and to call before you and examine on oath or otherwise, as may be allowed by law, such person or persons as you think capable of affording you information in the premises; and you are also hereby empowered to call for and examine all such books, documents, papers, plans, maps, or records as you deem likely to afford you the fullest information on the subject-matter of this inquiry, and to inquire of and concerning the premises by all lawful ways and means whatsoever. And, using all diligence, you are required to transmit to me, under your hands and seals, your reports and recommendations from time to time after the inquiries aforesaid have been made in respect of any considerable blocks or areas of Native land; and to transmit to me your first report not later than the twenty-eighth day of February, one thousand nine hundred and nine, or such extended date as may hereafter be named by me in that behalf, and your final report not later than the seventh day of March, one thousand nine hundred and nine, or such extended date as may hereafter be named by me. And you are directed to so frame your reports as to facilitate prompt action being taken thereon, and in particular to furnish in such reports such detail as to the lands available for European settlement as will enable Parliament, if it deem fit, to give immediate legislative effect to such parts of your reports. And it is hereby declared that these presents shall continue in full force and virtue although the inquiry may not be regularly continued from time to time or from place to place by adjournment. And, lastly, it is hereby further declared that these presents are issued under and subject to the provisions of “The Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908.”

Given under the hand of His Excellency the Right Honourable William Lee, Baron Plunket, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty’s Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies; and issued under the Seal of the said Dominion, at the Government House, at Wellington, this twenty-third day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and nine.

J. CARROLL.

Approved in Council.

ALEX. WILLIS,
Clerk of the Executive Council

Assigning Industrial Districts to Commissioners under “The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1908.”

PLUNKET, Governor.

ORDER IN COUNCIL.

At the Government Buildings, at Wellington, this twenty-seventh day of January, 1909.

Present:

THE HONOURABLE JAMES CARROLL PRESIDING IN COUNCIL.

WHEREAS the persons whose names are set forth in the first column of the Schedule hereto have been duly appointed Conciliation Commissioners for the purposes of Part III of “The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1908,” and it is expedient to assign to each of them an industrial district or districts within which each such Commissioner shall respectively exercise jurisdiction:

Now, therefore, His Excellency the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, in pursuance and exercise of the powers conferred by the said recited Act, and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, doth hereby assign, for the purposes of the said Act, to each of the Conciliation Commissioners mentioned in the first column of the Schedule hereto the industrial district or districts specified opposite the name of each Commissioner in the second column of the said Schedule respectively.

SCHEDULE.

Name of Commissioner. Industrial District.
THOMAS HARLE GILES .. Northern and Taranaki Industrial Districts.
PATRICK HALY .. Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland Industrial Districts.
JAMES RICHARD TRIGGS .. Canterbury and Otago and Southland Industrial Districts.

ALEX. WILLIS,
Clerk of the Executive Council.