SALE OF TOWN SECTIONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 500, 14 September 1912, Page 6

SALE OF TOWN SECTIONS.

To the Editor. Sir, —Great indignation is felt at Otorohanga re the manner in which the Maoris bid up sections during the recent sale. These people are protected by Government and Land Boards; their land is valued at its upset value, and further value in an auction sale is that created by the white people. Is it not fair that the Maori should be kept put of the sales instead of being allowed in to run up sections. This is always done by them where they see that a piece of ground is required for business purposes. The kindly Government makes this position safe for them seeing that they only pay 5 per cent. if the ground happens to be knocked down to them; so that should a Maori run up a section to £2O he will for his risk pay £1 per year. They are also allowed to reserve special sites which the whites' industry has made valuable. These sites they do not withdraw before the sale, but bid them up until knocked down to their agent, and so, not only take sites which are needed by townspeople, but run up adjoining sites proportionately. One man bought in three sections in this manner—the best three in his block—and the first to he put up in that block. Is this fair to the other biddres, and to the people who have made his sections worth what they bring? Surely the time has arrived when we may have at least fair treatment in these matters. —I am, etc., OTOROHANGA.