THE UREWERA COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16078, 7 December 1917, Page 3

THE UREWERA COUNTRY.

DESIRE FOR SETTLEMENT. "I was informed that there was very strong feeling on the Coast in respect to the UreWera country," said Mr A. W. Gillies, expert adviser to the National Efficiency Board, who returned to Auckland a few days ago from a tour of tho Bay of Plenty district. He added that nobody wished to do an injustice to the Natives, but ho was informed that they wished to sell portion* of their lands. Looking from the valley of the Whakatane, ono could see thousands of seres of valley and hill lying idle, yet; no white man was allowed to acquire a title to any of it. Years ago an embargo was placed by the Government on 700,000 acres of magnificent Umvera country, and itJfad ' never removed. Thus land capable of carrying at least 1,000,000 sheep was lying waste. The Government was supposed to be acquiring Urewera land for the purpose of settlement, but this was a very slow process. Mr Gillies said ho was of opinion that the embargo should at oilce be removed, and, with tho freezing works established at Whakatane, the iTJrewera Natives who wished to sell would have no difficulty in doing so, and settlement would oe stimulated to the advantage of tho whole Dominion.