MR. COATES VISITS MAORI PRINCESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 365, 28 May 1928, Page 16

MR. COATES VISITS MAORI PRINCESS

MORE LAND FOR CROPS The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, paid a visit this morning to the Princess Te Puea, the chieftainess of Waikato, at her Ngaruawahia pa. Several questions were placed before Mr. Coates in his capacity of Native Minister, by the Princess. One concerned an area of five acres of Crown land adjacent to the pa which she is anxious to obtain for the planting of root crops and other food supplies. “As time goes on I find it increasingly difficult to obtain sufficient land for crops for my people,” said the Princess, “and if the Prime Minister could obtain this area, which is at present unoccupied, I would be very grateful irideed.” The Princess last week conferred with the Mayor of Ngaruawahia (Mr. H. J. Sampson) and the town clerk, in regard to certain questions conceriy ing her village. One was the contemplated area for the new meetinghouse and hospital, which Te Puea hopes to open by March of next year. By that time the new tennis courts, now in course of preparation, will be ready, and a large tournament, on the lines of a similar assembly at Wanganui last year, will take place at the same time as the opening of the new house.

The chieftainess, at the request of the Maori members of Parliament, has accepted an invitation to visit Wellington. It is her intention to take her troupe of performers with her, and it is quite probable that she will give a performance in Wellington, in aid of her social work in the Waikato.

Te Puea has received autographed photographs from their Excellencies the Governor-General and the Lady Alice Fergusson, as souvenirs of their visit to the model pa in September.