TOWNSHIP TENURE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 429, 10 January 1912, Page 5

TOWNSHIP TENURE.

THE FREEHOLD QUESTION. At Monday night's meeting of Te Kuiti Borough Council a letter was received from the secretary of Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce (Mr Moatyn Jones) requesting the council's cooperation in urging the freeholding of the native-owned portion of the town. The Mayor suggested that the best way to deal with the business was for the Chamber of Commerce to draw up a comprehensive resolution on the matter and submit it to the council for endorsement before forwarding it to headquarters. He did not think there was a possibility of anything being done until the political situation was settled, as the question would have to be dealt with by special legislation.

Cr Sims said it was ascribed to the president of the Native Land Board that he did not believe in "piebald townships," and, therefore, was opposed to granting the freehold in individual cases. This was an extraordinary atttude for any official to take up in administering the law. Cr Tammadge said that changes frequently took place in the presidency of the boards and it was ridiculous to suppose the public should be subject to the personal ideas of different individuals in the matter. The law provided for a certain course and whether that course conflicted with the views of the president or not it should be carried out.

The Mayor's suggestion was eventually agreed to