Native Lands.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4435, 13 July 1909, Page 3

Native Lands.

Ditking the course of an interview with a representative of the “ Dominion ” on Monday last on the question of settlement of Native lauds, the Acting-Prime Minister (Hon, J. Carroll) stated that under the present policy, about two million acres of such lands had been settled. Great difficulty had been experienced in getting surveyors when a block of land had to be subdivided for settlement purposes. With a view to expediatiug the settlement of Native lauds, he was making special arrangements with the Survey Department to have the work carried out. The cost of such surveys would bo charged against the land surveyed, and would require to be paid in cash or in land. During the past three or four years he had given authority for some seveu hundred or eight hundred private surveys in different parts of New Zealand, and yet there had been no appreciable diminution iu the demand. Mr Carroll went on to say that it was quite evident, that the public wished to see further areas of Native lands opened for settlement. They seemed to forget, however, that it was, and had been for a long time, quite open for private individuals to contract under certain conditions with the owners for the lease or purchase of Native lands.