MAORI LAND GIFT

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 22 May 1917, Page 5

MAORI LAND GIFT

FOR RETURNED MAORI SOLDIERS

LAND LEGALLY HANDED OVER,

XHB GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION,

Another aud very important has been reached in the progress of tae arrangements tor legally handing over to tne Government the land' iQ the Ohaoko block given by the Maoris of the Ngati Tuwharetoa and the Ngati Tama peoples. A large meeting has been held at Tokaanu, at which some 200 natives were present, and although many of them had no direct interest as owners they had that community interest which is understood so well by the Maoris generally. They were present to show; their appreciation ,of the generosity of the men who did own the land to their brothers who would return to them from the war in Europe. The Government was represented at the meeting by die Hon: Dr. Pomar.\ and, the chief Maori spokesmen were Heu Heu Tukino, Kingi Topia and Mania* p,oco. The latier, a great chief among his fellows, was not present when the rest of the Ohaoko owners decided to give the land for soldiers, and he nsked for information- about what had been done. He pointed out that they were giving land which syndicates had offered them one pound an acre for. He

was not opposed to giving the land, but before consenting lie would like to know something about it. Kingi Topia explained that many wounded Maori soldiers would come back to them who had no land. Those why wanted land and could work it should have it and pay a rent which should go to a fund to be divided among the wounded who could not work. For the land they were giving a syndicate had offered £1 an acre for, now he could see that the Maoris wouid lose nothing by giving the land, because three or four other syndicates were offering 30/ for the other land, but the Maoris would not sell ar that price.

Dr. Pomare said Topia's words rerfl«Ctedr the position.

;;' Mahiapoto,,w>'io had listened with - rqse in true Maori jjnere, with how the words Q/fI |he speakers had rescued^him from 4*£;nxisunders£atiding like the Rarakia of the Te Arawa chief .had saved the. canoe from being, swallowed"up in the whirlpool. He was pleased to giye land with the other Maoris; their wounded brothers would have something.

The Hon. Dr. Pcmare said that, he and the Hon. Mr. Hemes had considered the question of improvements towards having the land put in readiness. Roads were to be made, a bridge put across the Rangitikei river, wire, posts, implements, etc. <*at on the laud; houses were to be built, and stock bought if required. They had decided that sections vshould be balloted for; that all rentsfshould be paid into a Trust Account So be distributed to all Maori soldiers; that any ; purchase money be invested by the U*qyer.nment and the interest thereon vtoibVdivided amongst all Maori soldiers, and tftat after all Maoris had been satisfied with land Pakeha soldiers should have first preference.

The Land Board, presided over by Judge McCormick, then put the whole transaction through and the land which had been increased from 25,000 acres to 35,000 acres was legally vested in the Government for the purpose and with the understanding reported and agreed upon. Then closed one of the most enthusiastic gatherings held by the natives in the Tokaanu district.