NATIVE LANDS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1929, Page 7

NATIVE LANDS

KING COUNTRY PROBLEMS. WELLINGTON, Oct. 11. Sir Apirana Ngata informed’ a King Country deputation that yesterday waited on the Hon G. W. Forbes and himself that lie proposed to spend ihree months of the recess in that district with a view to investigating the question of native lands. ' The deputation represented the local bodies of the district.

Mr Broaatoot M.P.,. said that the deputation felt that the best way to serve the interests of local bodies was by facilitating settlement, which should, if possible, be on the district plan. Mr Lorigan, representing the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce and the Waitomo Power Board, advocated the placing of natives on the same footing as Europeans in order that all might have the same facilities for 1 developing land. Without taking into account native lands the settlement of the o-mg Country would be a wash-out. Regret that no particular reference to' native lands was contained in the Land Laws Amendment Bill was expressed by Mr Jones, representing the Wailomo and Waipa County Councils. Air Forbes: \Ve can purchase and settle native lands.

Air Jones said he was pleased to hear that. Native land constituted a most difficult problem. 1 The settlers of AVaitomo County had a district that was well roaded but the fact that most of the native lands- paid no rates made the situat.ou awkward- There was a lot of good native land near the main roads. It was very suitable for farming in 200-acre blocks.

Other speakers stressed such points as the menace front ragwort and blackberry if absentee lauds were not farmed.

Air Forbes, in a short" reply, said that he had been impressed with the amount of land capable of increased settlement. He looked to the King Country to provide a good deal of land that would be settled under the Government’s settlement policy. Sir Apirana Ngata intimated his intention to concentrate on the King Country.