THE NATIVE LAND COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 11 December 1907, Page 2

THE NATIVE LAND COMMISSION.

Per Press Association, Gisborne, Tuesday. The Native Land Commission yesterday opened its sittings at Waiomatatini. Sir Robert Stout, the chairman, received a hearty welcome. The natives in this district have gone in extensively for co-operative farming, and have some fine sheep stations. The Waiapu natives have intimated to the Native Land Commission that they all desire to go farming, and that, if the land is cut up, there will not be as much as 500 acres apiece. They desire to retain their land, The position of the Waiapu land is thus stated:— Napatipu lands 143,000 acres, titles ascertained 00,000 acres, leased to Europeans 200,000 acres, native-owned 403,000 acres. Mr. A. T. Ngata, M.P., a member of the Commission, stated that in dealing with Waiapu His Honor would have to exercise his own judgment, as he (Mr. Ngata) had diffidence in comirtg with him, having been largely responsible for the industrial progress that had been made there. The great question for inquiry was whether the people by their actions had justified their claim to a large portion of the land now lying waste. Sir Robert Stout repeated his warning that the only hope for the Maoris rested in their becoming farmers.