King Country Chronicle Saturday, Nov. 18, 1911. THIS TOWNSHIP QUESTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 415, 18 November 1911, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Saturday, Nov. 18, 1911. THIS TOWNSHIP QUESTION.

That residents in King Country native townships are alive to the necessity of action in respect, to securing an alteration of tenure in township leasehold sections i.s evidenced by the movement recently inaugurated at Taumarunui. The question was discussed by the Borough Council, and the conclusion arrived at favoured the acquisition of the town by the Government, and a committee was appointed to arrange for a mooting of the native owners with a view to ascertaining definitely the prospects of an amicable arrangement. During the discussion on the matter it was pointed out that a clause bearing on the subject might be inserted in the Hill to be introduced next session which is intended to give the Government power to com' pulsorily acquire! native lands not in use by the owners. It is hardly likely the Bill referred to contemplates the acquisition of town lands, but there is obviously no reason why its scopo should not be extended to embrace the towns affected by the existing state of things. It will hardly be disputed thai in the. best interests of the Dominion as a whole the compulsory measures which it is intended to include in the. Bill referred to are desirable. That they will be exercised equitably is also assured, and by pro • vision being made for the inclusion of native townships a channel would be afforded for the remedying of what must inevitably grow into a colossal evil. A serious obstac e in the way of achieving the desired end even supposing the owners would be dealt with, presents itself in th;i financial aspect of the case. Value, have increased enormously during the past few years in consequence of (lie spread of European settlement, and the progressive residents of the towns mentioned have expended largo sums of money in making flic towns fit for European habitation. Delay, however, will merely suffice to accentuate the trouble in this respect, and it is to be hoped vigorous steps will bo adopted to effect a proper solution of a question which intimately affects the welfare of every settler in our tovy4JS,