NATIVE SETTLEMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 808, 31 October 1929, Page 6

NATIVE SETTLEMENT

QUARTER OF MILLION TO BE SPENT

FIVE YEARS’ PROGRAMME THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Wed. In the Native Affairs (“washing ! up”) Bill, which was introduced in ■ the House today by Governor-Gener-j al’s Message, provision is made for | native land settlement on lines simiI lar to those of the Land Laws ! Amendment Bill. • The Minister of Native Affairs, Sir ! Apirana Ngata, explained that the most important clauses related to native land settlement. Provision was made for a development sum. The purpose was to settle natives only, and provision was made for the expenditure of £250,000, over a period of four or five years. It was thought that not more than £25,000 could be spent within the present financial year, but the amount required over 12 months would be about £75,000. Another provision related to permitting Maori land boards to guarantee advances made by dairy companies to native farmers. An investment guarantee fund also was necessary. To this end £5,000 was set aside to accumulate with the Public Trustee at compound interest to £ 10,000. The Minister personally thought the sum should be larger. Another clause, said Sir Apirana, was to prevent the waste of timber in the Taupo-Totara timber area. It had been found that on a block changing hands, the natives leaving it often laid waste the timber. That was to be stopped. In all there were 65 clauses in the Bill dealing with miscellaneous native questions. The Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Native Affairs Committee.