PIO PIO TO TE KUITI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 562, 26 April 1913, Page 5

PIO PIO TO TE KUITI.

Te Kuiti waa reached shortly after eight o'clock, and the Prime Minister was received at the Municipal Chambers by the members of the corporation and the chairman of the County Council. TE KUITI DEPUTATIONS. Deputations were received in the Municipal Hall by the Prime Minister. Messrs Lusk and Boddie drew attention to a position which had been created by the Act of 1909, which rendered the freehold of native lands a poor security for finance. It was suggested that steps should be taken to safeguard the holders of these freeholds and (he mortgegeee and make these lands equnl to any other freeholds as security.-Mr Massey, in reply, said he recognised the point, and while safeguarding the aggregation of land ho would see that steps were taken to remedy the drawback.

The taking of Pukenui block for close settlement was advocated by MiGraham, and the Premier promised to get an official report on the proposal. The township tenure was dealt with ably by Messrs Howarth and Finlay, as was the rodding of native lands by Mr Boddie.— Mr Massey said important native land legislation was now in course of preparation, and the matters advocated would be provided for.

Deputations from Otorohanga were introduced by Mr C. K. Wilson, member for the district.

Mr Whyte asked that Native Town Councils should be placed in the same position as other local bodies with respect to subsidies for rates. Mr Benner requested that the Town Council be granted the 10 per cent, additional on the town loan; that a four-acre reaerve should be set aside for hospital purposes, and that an excursion train should run from the King Country to Auckland during the visit of the battleship. Mr Maßsey, in reply, said he would get the opinion of the Crown Law officer on the rate subsidy question. He promised to recommend the department to grant the additional 10 per cent, on the loan. As to the reserve if there was no difficulty in the way he would grant it. He also said he would endeavour to have the special train to Auckland run during the visit of the battleship. Mr R. Boddy advocated the widening of the Mangakakopu road between Te Kuiti and Marokopa and the extension of the telephone line between Mangaohae and Moeatoa. Petitions on these matters were now being largely signed by both settlers and townspeople. —Mr Massey said he sympathised with the requests and would do his best to havo them granted.