NATIVE TOWNSHIP TENURE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 474, 15 June 1912, Page 5

NATIVE TOWNSHIP TENURE.

THE MINISTER'S VIEWS

In replying to members of Taumarunui Borough Cuuncil, who laid before him a proposal that the Government should purchase the township from the native owners, the Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald Minister for Native Affairs, said there was no doubt the Eurpeans bad accepted a rotten lease. It iA not an easy matter for the GovernnUnt to step in and take over a township, particularly where private peonle had already in certain cases obtained the freehold of their sections. In the case of Taumarunui the freehold had not been obtained by private individuals, and it might be possiule for the Government to take over the township if the native owners were agreeable. When the 1910 amendment to the Native Township Act was in committee he had striven hard to have the clause enabling private people to deal privately for the freehold kept out of the Bill. Mr Hemes and Mr Jennings had both strongly advocated the insertion of the clause, and it was going to prove a serious obstacle to the taking over of the native townships by the Government. He was still of opinion that private people should not have had the opportunity of acquiring the freehold of their sections. Had the privilege been limited to the Government there was no doubt the Government would have acquired the township. If a reasonable and equitable arrangement could be made to that end it would have his support. EFFECT ON NATIVES. ' 'ln speaking on the question of Maori township tenure at Taumaruuni this week, Mr C. J. _ Ryan referred to the existing conditions at Taumarunui as far as the Maori was concerned. He said many of the natives would be infinitely better off if their township interests could be sold and the money devoted to assisting them to work their rural lands. At present the rents derived from their town interests did them little good, and in many cases led them to hang about the township to their own detriment. Gifen a proper opportunity, and encouragement to work their rural lands they would develop into better citizens in every respect. Quite apart from any question of benefit to the Europeans, who were making the town the benefit to the natives, if a proper scheme were adopted, would be incalculable.