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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 67

Interpreters and Native Land Agents

page 54

Interpreters and Native Land Agents.

Interpreter's Licenses cancelled

88. Any license heretofore issued to any person under the Acts hereby repealed, authorising him to act as an interpreter of the Maori language, is hereby revoked and cancelled.

Chief Commissioner to examine applicant for Interpreter's Licenses, etc.

89. Any person desirous of obtaining a license authorising him to act as a Maori Interpreter, or as Maori Interpreter and Land Agent, shall make application in that behalf to the Chief Commissioner. It shall be the duty of such Chief Commissioner to forthwith inquire into the character of the applicant, and to personally examine him as to his knowledge of both the English and Moari languages, and his ability to translate and re-translate the same in writing; also whether he sufficiently understands the legal effect of any instrument of title which he may be called upon to interpret or translate.

Chief Commissioner may recommend the Governor to issue a License

90. If on completion of such inquiry, the Chief Commissioner shall be satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person, and it competent to act as a Maori Interpreter, or as a Maori Interpreter and Land Agent, he may recommend the Governor to issue a license under his hand authorising such person to act in either one or both of such capacities, in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief Commissioner. The Chief Commissioner may, if he shall deem fit, decline to make any recommendation to the Governor on any application.

Effect of License

91. On such license being signed by the Governor and delivered to the applicant, the holder thereof shall be entitled to act as a Maori Interpreter, in the Supreme, or any other Court of Law within the Colony of New Zealand, or in any Court established under this Act. And any document written in the English language and requisite for any process of law, or any Bill of Exchange or Promissory Note, shall be invalid, and null and void if not translated in the Maori language and written on or annexed to such document by a duly licensed interpreter, and thereon shall also be endorsed a certificate signed by such interpreter as to the correctness of such translation.
(a.)Any person licensed as a Maori Interpreter and Land Agent shall be authorised to negotiate for a proposed sale or lease of any Disposable or Titled land as between the Trustees appointed under this Act, and any person other than a Native.
(b.)A Maori Interpreter, not being the holder of a license to act as a Land Agent, shall not enter into any negotiation respecting Titled or Disposable lands, or he shall be liable to the penalty hereinafter imposed on persons acting without a license.

Fees on issue of License

92. Every Maori Interpreter shall pay to the Chief Commission or Commissioner, on the delivery of his license, a fee of two pounds and every person licensed as a Maori Interpreter and Land Agent a fee of ten pounds. Such fees shall be used towards defraying the expenses of compiling and publishing any dictionary of the Maori language, or any history of the Maori race which shall hereafter be made under the authority of the Government.

Interpreters and Land Agents may be suspended or removed

93. The Governor may, at his discretion, suspend or remove any Maori Interpreter or Maori Interpreter and Land Agent appointed or acting under this Act A Commissioner may suspend any such Interpreter, or Interpreter and Land Agent, but shall forthwith report such suspension to the Governor, with the reason therefor.

Penalties

94. Any person acting as a Maori Interpreter, or as a Maori Interpreter and Land Agent, who shall act during the suspension of his license by any Commissioner as aforesaid, and until the Governor shall have renewed such suspension, shall be liable to a penalty of not less than one pound or more than ten pounds, to be recovered in a summary way as hereinafter provided.
page 55
(a.)Any person acting as, or pretending to be, a Licensed Interpreter, or a Licensed Interpreter and Land Agent under this Act, and who is not the holder of a license duly empowering him in that behalf, shall be liable to a penalty of not less than ten pounds or more than one hundred pounds, to be recovered in a summary way as hereinafter provided.
(b.)Any person licensed as a Maori Interpreter, or as a Maori Interpreter and Land Agent, who shall deal or negotiate for any sale or lease of any Native Land (as the same is defined in the Interpretation section of this Act), shall, on conviction thereof, forfeit his license, and shall thereafter be for ever incapable of holding a license, and shall be liable to a penalty of not less than twenty pounds or more than one hundred pounds, to be recovered in a summary way before any Resident Magistrate or any two Justices of the Peace.
95. All licenses issued to any persons as above provided, shall be

Chief Commissioner to furnish lists of Licensed Interpreters

worded in the office of the Chief Commissioner, who, in addition to the Gazette notice of such appointment, shall furnish to every Commissioner appointed under this Act, and to the Judges of the Supremo Court, District Judges, and Resident Magistrates throughout the Colony, a correct list of the names of all persons licensed to act as Maori Interpreters under this Act, and from time to time to alter and correct such list. And no Judicial Officer or Commissioner shall allow any person to act before him as an interpreter in any matter affecting Natives, unless he is satisfied that such interpreter is the holder of a license empowering him so to act.