UREWERA LANDS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 265, 3 August 1921, Page 4

UREWERA LANDS

THE SCHEME OF CONSOLIDATION IMPORTANT CONFERENCE NOW PROCEEDING A highly important conference for the consideration of matters connected with, the Ui'ewera lands has been opened, at Ruatoki. Representatives of the Lands Department and tho Native Department are meeting Maori owners for the discussion of the scheme put forward by the Government for the consolidation of the Government’s interests and the Native interests -respectively in the Urewera block. The position, as has been explained already, is that the Government has acquired by purchase rather more than half of the total area of the Urewera, the remaining portion being owned by Maoris who are non-sollers. But the interests have not been defined and until this is done no progress can be made with settlement. The Hon. A. Ngata, M.P., is watching tho interests of the Maori owners at the conference. The Native Land Purchase Officer (Mr. Bowles) is present to supply information as to the purchases already made by the Government, and other details that may be required. . A definite scheme of consolidation is being submitted to the Natives,, who ere being asked to give their assent. Legislation on ths subject probably will be required later. Survey parties have been at work for some time defining the road lines in order that the consolidation may be arranged in a convenient form. The negotiations aro expected to occupy some time. When-the Government’s purchases, amounting to some 396,000 acres, have been defined, the subdivision of the land for settlement will proceed quickly. It is intended that the Maori owners of the balance of the Urewera land shall have their interests defined individually in Older that titles may be issued. When these lands have been individualised they will lie made liable for the payment of rates on the same basis as European lands. The Maoris have indicated already that they are prepared to pay their share of the cost of reading, the payments to be made in land.