HORTENED SAIL, BUT UNDAMAGED

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 106, 29 January 1935, Page 10

HORTENED SAIL, BUT UNDAMAGED

New Zealand’s Recovery MR. FORBES ENTERTAINED AT OPOTIKI By Telegraph—Press Association. Opotiki, January 28. The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, reached Opotiki this evening from Whakatane and was entertained at dinner by the Opotiki Borough Council and other local authorities, this being his first visit to the district. Afterward he received deputations on local matters. To-morrow with Sir Apirana Ngata be will inspect Native settlement schemes in the district, going on to Te--Kafia, 45 miles along the coast from Opotiki in the direction of Cape Runaway, and spend the night there, returning to Rotorua on Wednesday by way of Ruatoki and viewing the Urewera development eh route. Replying at the dinner to the toast of his health, proposed by Mr. J. B. Gow, Mr. Forbes said New Zealand had come out of its diflieulites as well as any country in the world, and the outlook was not unfavourable. Referring to the Native land schemes he remarked that it was much the best to help the Maori without divorcing him from his own land, and thus place the Native problem on a sounder footing. He was very pleased with the progress of the schemes and the results in the conversion of land from fern and scrub were really surprising, especially on pumice lands, and the keenness of the Maoris augured well. Mr. Forbes briefly discussed the problem of. the limitation of exports to Great Britain, and said he hoped New Zealand would be able to make favourable terms. lie was confident New Zealand could continue to do its present amount of business and on profitable terms, even if it was unable to increase it. The Government had not shirked unpopularity or taken the easy course, and now the ship had come through the storm with shortened sail, but undamaged. EAST COAST TOUR ; i Inspection of Settlement Schemes y ■ ■ 9 1 ’• I By Telegraph—Press Association. Whakatane, January 28. Commencing the fourth day of his tour of the Native settlement schemes,* the Native Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, was joined at Whakatane today by Sir Apirana Ngata, who has recovered from the illness which detained him for several days at Rotorua. This morning they motored through the block of 5000 acres comprising the Ngatiawa scheme, and extending from the bluffs above Whakatane to the west shore of Ohiwi harbour. This land, which was confiscated long ago and was repurchased for Native settlement, is being deyeloped for sheep, and now carries 3000, with 400 head of cattle. The Minister was shown the new woolshed and also areas which European residents wish to have excluded from the scheme for subdivision as seaside sections owing to the great popularity of the Ohope beach. The party was entertained at lunch at the Wairaka Maori village..