TOWNSHIP TENURE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 94, 7 August 1908, Page 5

TOWNSHIP TENURE.

Meeting at Te Kuiti,

j A meeting was heid in Mr HattaI way's Hall on Friday evening last for the purpose of discussing the advisability of making recommendations to the Government, with a view to an improvement in the tenure ot the township! Mr. Jer. Ormsby, the convener, was voted to the chair, and there was a fair attendance. The chairman explained the object of the meeting, and said that as legislation was contemplated with regard to Native townships it was advisable that the views of the people who were most interested in the question should be placed before Parliament. Mr. Boddie addressed the meeting and suggested that in view of the position and for the benefit of all concerned it was desirable that the restrictions should be removed from township land. After a general discussion the following motibn, proposed by Mr. Blackman, and seconded by Mr. Plier, was carried unanimously : " That the Government be asked to remove all restrictions for the sale of Te Kuiti township lands, and that with a view to get concerted action on the part of Taumarunui and Otorohanga residents, efforts should be made to arrange a conference of delegates from the centres mentioned, such conference to be arranged at as early a date as possible." It was also decided that the chairman call a meeting to'report progress when the necessary information had been obtained. In connection with the proposed conference, Mr Steel paid a visit to Taumarunui on Monday last, and interviewed the Chairman of the Township Council, the Rev. J. Ward, on the subject. Mr Ward, who was recently in Wellington, expressed sympathy with' the movement, and undertook to place the matter before the local Council. He stated that the experience of the Taumarunui people was such that, in the interests of all concerned, it was important that steps should be taken to place matters on a better footing. The Taumarunui people had formed the first township council to be set up under the' "Native Townships Act," and their efforts to progress had been blocked in every direction. They would, he' had no doubt, welcome a conference.' From what he. had .gathered when in .Wellington, .he, nad; ltftle hope that 'anything" satisfactory would be accomplished this session, and vigorous action , should be taken by those interestedMr A. S.'Laird, a member of the Taumarunui Council, expressed himself in similar terms, and it was suggested that a conference should be held at Te Kuiti on Tuesday, August ißtb. A meeting is to be held at Te Kuiti on Friday, August 7th, to arrange further steps in connection with the movement.