No. 259, Sess. II.—Petition of Romana Tautari and 399 Others.
Petitioners state that their land in the Bay of Plenty District is held by five or six persons as trustees for the tribe. They pray that the law may be changed, and that the lands may be conveyed to them as tenants in common.
I am directed to report as follows:—
That, in the opinion of this Committee, it will be necessary to bring in a measure by which relief can be given to the petitioners, and that they will be able to bequeath the land to their children and relatives, that is to say, the lands at Opotiki and Whakatane granted to certain Natives by the Compensation Court. This Committee therefore recommends that the Government will introduce the legislation necessary for this purpose.