NATIVE TOWNSHIP SECTIONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 457, 17 April 1912, Page 5

NATIVE TOWNSHIP SECTIONS.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ACTION. LETTER FROM UNDER-SECRE-TARY. In response to representations made by the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce concerning the attitude of the Native Department with reference to granting tho freehold of the town sections, the following letter hag been received from the Under-Secretary of the Department: — "Sir, —Referring to the late Prime Minister's telegram to you of the 4th ultimo, in connection with a statement made by you as to action the president of the board was taking in connection with Te Kuiti township sections, I may state that, as far as the remark you make that "the president had publicly stated from the chair that he did not think it desirable that the township be made freehold," is cuncerned, this is denied by that officer, and I think.knowing him, that he woud hardly make such a strong statement as ,vuu intimate.

With regard to acquiring the fee simple of these town allotments,_ the several cases have, been looked into, and from the evidence adduced it can hardly be accepted that all the proposals submitted were such as could be dealt with, taking position of the "interests of" the native owners. tJ In fact, of the se\e ra 1 transactions that have been before the board, al! seem to have passed satisfactorily with the exception of one in which Mr E. H. Hardy, and anuther in which Messrs Mackay and Jones are interested and in both cases, from what has come before me, it seems they could hardly be accepted as being advantageous to the native owners to part with their interests at the price mentioned." —THOS. W. FISHER, Under-Secretary.