NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 441, 25 February 1909, Page 6

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

REMARKS BY,THE HON.' A. T. NGATA.. Speaking to - a Dominion., reporter yesier-;- ;1 day, the Hon. A. I'., Ngata to an < editorial reiuark'.by this journal that he. had 'been "invisible" since' his appointment as '»; Minister. v' : ' ■ . "I ..have been engaged for the-last three it.. ? : years'on the Native';Land-C^minissiori ) ";,sa^d ; \ ■ 1 Mr. Ngata, "arid/.when r''was. rqquesW. ; t6'l i join the Ministry, I. asked for a . few' weeks' .. - ' ' in' which. tosettle my private .affairs, aiid ' those of my/ tribe,' before' actively taking': up iny new duties." Mr. Nfjata also said .V' I that' tbe ;prinoipal . matter would' eu. •- : gage 'his attention for ; s6me-:ti'me.'would /bj ~ : i the .reorganisation'..of ...the;- Maori Councils.' •. ■' V' In reply to a -question, he said t'naf ' the '• Maoris of' i the Gisborn? district ; who : are largely engaged in sheepfarming, : had had a good season, and the -prospt-cli '■ before, them w>re bright-. The riay was long past when the success or failure of. the' -i potato crop meant plenty or starvation for "* ; them. Mr. Ngata also, spoke with regret of tilt : \ death of Mr., Hone Heke, M.P., saying ,that f '■! his plario,would be very, difficult to" fill.' H» . ■"*" i had held the whole of his people 'together-'' : in a - remarkable • way, and there ': ivhs ik ■ ! man. either;in the l'oung Maori pn'rty:b; ■' kj elsewhere,: who; seemed to, stand out as hii ' -1 natural successor. •" •; .- ' ■'. :;v. ; .