IDLE NATIVE LANDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 791, 11 October 1929, Page 6

IDLE NATIVE LANDS

SETTLEMENT IN KING COUNTRY SIR API RAN A TO INVESTIGATE THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Thursday. The Minister of Native Affairs, Sir Apirana Ngata, promised a King Country deputation today that he -would visit the King Country for three months in the recess to study the problem of native lands there. The deputation applauded the announcement. It represented local bodies of the district, and approached the Minister of Lands, the Hon. G. W. Forbes and Sir Apirana Ngata concerning land settlement, it was introduced by Mr. \V. J. Broadfoot (Waitomoi, Mr. F. Langstone (Waimarino) also was present. The deputation, said Mr. Broadfoot, felt that the best way to serve the interests of local bodies was to facilitate settlement which should, if possible, be on a district plan. The Mayor of Taumarunui, Mr. C. Boles, spoke of the large area of undeveloped land in the Kipg Country, particularly the huge block at Punga Punga, east of Taumarunui, and near the Main Trunk railway. The Borough of Taumarunui had a debt of £150,000. In the past, big revenue had been derived from the saw-milling industry, which was now slipping. Therefore, tinless land development were followed up in the district it would be difficult for the borough to meet its liabilities. Mr. V. \Y. Lorigan. representing the Te Kuiti Borough Council,' Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce, and Waitomo Power Board, said that there were large areas of native lands in the King Country, and it was desirable that such areas should be settled. Mr. Forbes: We can purchase and kettle native lands. Mr. Jones: I am pleased to hear that There was a lot of good native land Sn the King Country, he continued, situated near main roads. It was very suitable for farming in 200-acre blocks, and while laud like that was available it would be a mistake to buy highly-priced land. Mr. Forbes: There are some in the South Island who are not so fortunate in having that sort of land to cut and carve at. Mr. S. Knight (Ongarue Ratepayers’ Association) and Mr. W. E. Waldegrave (Raetihi Borough Council and Chamber of Commerce) also joined in the representations. Sir Apirana Ngata said that he proposed to give three months to the King Country in the recess. He wanted to concentrate on that district. Mr. Forbes recognised the possibilities of development in the King Country. He had the opportunity of visiting it in the last recess and he had been impressed with the amount of land capable of increased settlement.