WANT THE FREEHOLD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 154, 28 December 1911, Page 5

WANT THE FREEHOLD.

TE IvUITI SETTLERS MEAN BUSINESS. •By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, December 20. At the committee meeting of the Te Ivuiti Chamber of Commerce last week, the question of persons who had applied to the Maori Land Board for the freehold of their sections in Te Kuiti and district, and who had been refused, was discussed. The chairman said he did not see why they should not be able to get the freehold on a fair basis. The town was growing in value every day. Ho quoted the Mokau-Mohakatino block, which was valued at £50,000, and secured for £20,000 by reason of the fact that there were thirty years 1 lease to run, and he failed' to see why a similar proposition could not be applied to Ta Kuiti. Instances were given where natives who had farms wanted to sell their town interests in order that they might invest their money in their farms, but were not allowed by the board to transact the sale.

It was resolved to communicate with the Borough Council arid ask them to frame a resolution in connection with the matter, and to ask them to co-oper-ate with the Chamber. It was also decided to forward the facts to both the Prime Minister and Mr. Massey, and to ask them to do something in the matter. It was further decided that both leaders should be informed that the people meant business, and that no stone would be left unturned to obtain the object.