NATIVE LANDS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1929, Page 5

NATIVE LANDS

,'By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

"WHAKATANE, November 29

Sir A. Ngata (Native Minister), Judge Carr, Tai Mitchell (Officer in Charge of Native Land Consolation scheme) and Balneveo (the Minister’s private secretary) met a deputation from Whakatane and Tauranga County Councils yesterday in regard to the consolidation of native land in Bay of Plenty; and payment of arrears of native rates. "W . Reid (\Y hakatano County Chairman) explained that £I9OO was owing to Iris county and with the next two years during consolidation would bring the amount to £26,000. He asked in view of the valuable lands held hv natives and expensive working schemes undertaken by the Council that the Commission award not less than twenty-live per cent ol

arrears. C. E. McMillan. .U.P., supported the request and contended that native rates uncollected should ho paid out ol the Consolidated Eund as being more equitable than districts with large nati\e population.s having to hoar the lull burden.

Sir A, Ngala explained that Ngatiawa natives in Opotaki and Whakatane districts had decided upon a scheme of consolidation and Whakatane natives had offered to the Crown approximately 6,000 acres of land by way of compensation for payment of arrears ol rates The Government valuation of land however was about £OOO short of the amount required to make up the

twenty-five per cent of the total rate arrears on native lands concerned in Whakatane. The matter would be submitted to the Native Land Conciliation Commission at Rotorua and a rep’y should he scut to the Council wiLllin, a week. The Chairman of the Tauranga County Council i(Mr Sinclair) pointed out there were 60,000 aeres of native' lands in Tauranga on which Native rates were not collectable. The Minister promised to go into the position of the Tauranga land with the Commission.