NATIVE LAND SCHEMES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21384, 29 January 1935, Page 12

NATIVE LAND SCHEMES

* MINISTER ON TOUR Mil FORBES PLEASED WITH RESULTS (ritiss ASSOCIATION TULBOHALI.) OPOTIKI, Jariuary 23. Commencing the fourth day of his tour of native settlement schemes the Minister for Native Affairs, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, was joined at Whakatanc to-day by Sir Apirana Ngata, who has recovered from the illness which detained him for several. days at Rotorua. This morning they motored through a block of 5000 acres comprising the Ngatiawa scheme, and extending from the bluffs above Whakatane to the west shore of Ohiwi harbour. This land, which was confiscated long ago and repurchased for native settlement, is being developed for sheep, and now carries 3000, with 400 cattle. The Minister was shown a new woolshed and also the areas which the European residents wish excluded from the scheme, for subdivision as seaside sections, because of the great popularity of Ohope beach. The party was entertained at lunch at Wairaka, a Maori village. Mr Forbes reached Opotiki in the evening from Whakatane, and was entertained at dinner by the Opotiki Borough Council and other local authorities. This was his first visit to the district. Afterwards he received deputations on local matters. To-morrow, with Sir Apirana Ngata, he will inspect native settlement, schemes in the district, going on to Te Kalia, 45 miles along the coast from Opotiki in the direction of Cape Runaway, and will spend the night there. He will return to Rotorua on Wednesday by way of Ruatoki, and he will inspect development work at Urewera en route.

Replying at; the dinner to the toast of his health, which had been proposed by Mr J. B. Gow. Mr Forbes said that New Zealand had come out of its difficulties as well as any country in the world, and the outlook was not unfavourable. Progress of Schemes Referring to native land schemes, he said that it was much the best plan to help the Maori without divorcing him from his own land, and thus to place the native problem on a sounder footing. Fie was very 1 1 leased with the progress of the schemes, and Ihe results in the conversion ol' land from fern and scrub were really surprising, especially on the pumice lands, he said. 'The keenness of the Maoris augured well for the future. Mr Forbes briefly discussed the problem of the limitation of oxporls lo Groat Britain, and said he hoped that New Zealand would be able to make favourable terms. He was confident that New Zealand could continue do the present amount ot business, and on profitable fernv;, oven if it was unable to increase it The Government had not shirked unpopularity, nor had if fnken the easy course, said Mr F"-hos and ■ ,lf w Hie ship had come I hrm.gli'the storm with shortened sail, hut undamaged.