NATIVE TOWNSHIPS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 473, 12 June 1912, Page 5

NATIVE TOWNSHIPS.

PURCHASE BY GOVERNMENT

ADVOCATED AT TAUMARUNUI

A deputation consisting of the members of the Taumarunui Borough Council waited on the Minister for Native Affairs, Hun. W. D. S. Macdonald, at Taumarunui on Tuesday evening and placed before the Minister the desirability of altering the tenure of the native townships. MrWackrow. Mayor of Taumarunui, referred to the manner in which the townships had been opened, and to the fact that the lessees had to wait for an incoming tenan'" lo purchase improvements. In effect no compensation was provided for on the part of the owners. The leases for the portion of the township which was opened last were considerably worse than the original leases. Mr Slattery, town clerk, quoted figures to show the great increase in unimproved values which had taken place and also referred to the fact that it was impossible to finance r easonablv on the sections.

Mr C. J. Ryan said there was no idea of doing anything unfair to the natives. It waa undoubtedly to the benefit of the natives to capitalise their township interests and utilise the money to assist them on their rural lands. Lessees would be prepared to give a prospective value for the sections in order to secure a better title.

Mr Wackrow suggested that the Government should acquire the freehold and legislate so that the township could be administered by the borough council. Other councillors also spoke in support of the proposal. The Minister, in reply, said he recognised the conditions were not, as good as they should be. Still there were difficulties to be overcome in the case of breaking a bargain. Native lessors were as much entitled to consideration as European lessors. In vie v of the whole circumstances if an equitable arrangement could be made he would support the proposal that the Government should acquire the township.