MINISTERIAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 276, 18 May 1912, Page 5

MINISTERIAL

AMONG THE MAORIS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Gisborne, Friday. The Hon. Mr. MaeDonald, Minister for Public Works and Native Affairs, was entertained by his constituents at Te Karaka last evening. There was a large and enthusiastic fathering preseat. Speeches were delivered by Sir James Carroll, the Mayor of Gisborne, and others. Mr. MaeDonald was presented with an illuminated address. Aceompanied by Sir James Carroll, the Minister left for Wairoa this morning to take part in the opening of the Nuhaka bridge. The Native Minister, in the course of an interview, announced that last year's operations in connection with transactions and alienations of native land showed great progress, the figures being: Lands ' dealt with' by way of lease, 336,000 acres; dealt with by way of sale, 319,867 acres; purchased by the Crown, 91,744 acres. Probably 30,000 acres were purchased by the Crown Lands Department, and a further 100,000 acres, the sale of which was under negotiation on March 31, have now been practically bought, making a total for the year of approximately 800,000 acres.

Mr. MacDoanld holds that surplus lands can be dealt with more on the lines of Crown lands than is being done under existing conditions. He is thoroughly investigating the working of the Native Department, and considers that the land courts should complete their work about three years from now.