EAST COAST TOUR

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 124, 18 February 1921, Page 5

EAST COAST TOUR

THE PARLIAMENTARY PARTY “ A REVELATION TO SOUTHERN MEMBERS” B.v Telegraph—Snecial Correßnondcnt.. Opotiki, February 17. By this evening the M.P.’s on the east coast tour had travelled well over 300 miles. The day’s run brought the party to Opotiki. Iti was a day of varied experiences and sights. Leaving Whakatane in the morning, the visitors ran up the Taneatua Valley to Ruatoki, on the fringe of the Great Urewera Countrf. Here the Ttihoi Tribe gave hakas Of welcome, expressed their views on tho Native land question of the area, and provided an excellent feast, but to it full justice could not be done owing to the importance of keeping to the time schedule. It was pleasing to observe in this area dairy farms carried on by Natives, and some excellent crops of maize grown by them. From Ruatoki the cars returned to Taneatua, where a frosh relay was waiting and very soon tfie visitors were speeding along fhe main road to Opotiki through the Waimana Gorge. It was a perfect scene. The Waimana River, crystal clear, sparkled over its pebbly lied overhung by a noble bush-clad ridge. Reaching the ton of the Gorge Rond, the cars mads a sudden descent through winding gullies which end in the glorious little fla'ls of Waimana, a basin among the hills covered with prosperous looking dairy farms. Running through these flats the route turned up a. Toad towards tho hills which are the enter conflr°« of tho Urewera. Here is a Native settlement where numbers of Maoris are dairying. A. striking contrast was observed in its vicinity. On a Pakeha farm stood a concrete silo for the making of ensilage and in the background stood tho bush clad ranges of the Urewera. part of 800 000 idle acres Close by were Native lands which had been individualised and were, being farmed; beyond lay the locked-up lands on the borders of which all roads worthy of the name came to an abrupt end. No better argument could ho presorted in favour of the rapid opening-up of the Urewera than this concrete illustration. Turning down the Nukuhou Valley towards the sen, the party travelled over a metalled road on which Natives are paying rates. The land is not the richest, but the growing crops and the largo herds passed indicated how speedily it answered to treatment. A splendid lunch was provided by the residents at the Nukuhou cheese factory, where Mr. F. J. Savage, chairman of the company, welcomed tho party, and, among other things, mentioned- that adjoining a made road nearby there was an area of 2400 acres oUgood bush country which had been acquired by the Crown, in 1896, but which still lay idle because it had not. been opened up for settlement. At this point in the journey Mr. F. Hockly relinquished the position of official host in favour of Mr. K. S. Williams, whose district was now being entered. Mr. R. Masters, in returning thanks to the residents, paid a tribute to the excellence of the arrangements made by Mr. Hockly and Hs lieutenants. After changing into car® from Opotiki, the party was carried over a splendid road down the valley to. Kutarero, and there viewed the Ohiwa Harbour, where Mr. Drury, the pioneer of the valley, pointed out the new wharf which is being erected at a cost of £6OOO by the two counties concerned. This wharf will have a depth of Bft. at low water and 15ft. at high tide. It was a beautiful picture, but apart from the beauty it was explained the wharf would serve the whole of the Nukuhou-Wni-mana-Kutarere district, besides the hinterland. From here tho party proceeded down the -main road to the sea, and greatly enjoyed the run along the fine coast road. A Soldier Settlement. * Turning inland the Waiotahi Valley was explored and its great fertility observed. Tho soldiers’ settlement at Woodlands was inspected, tho settlers’ wives providing tea. by the wayside. The settlement covers rich footlands 'below which a rare landscape is spread out. Twenty-one settlers are on the block, 12 being married, and they had no complaints. Tho land was formerly a sheep run, and it will be necessary for the paddocks, which are mainly in fescue and other rough grasses,, to be put into good grasses for dairying. Mr. J. Armstrong. a farmer living in tho vicinity, paid a high tribute to the irdmtry the soldiers wee displaying in. tackling their sections and predicted a prosperous future for them. 'The visitors were then ifrfven to other arms of the Opotiki flats upon which maize crops are growing luxuriantly. Welcome at Opotiki.

In the evening a welcome was extended at a social gathering in Opotiki. The Mayor (Mr. T. G. Johnson) presided. He said that the visitors had come to view the land, and in this district bad found a land flowing with milk and honey. He urged the need of a railway, which should be started from the Opotiki end. (Applause.) They certainly had sea transport, but their >boat was rather too permanent when it was held up by the bar while produce remained on the wharf and prices declined. Mr. K. S. Williams, M.P. for tho district, said that it might have sounded presumptions for so young a member as himself to say that many of his colleagues required education on,the East Coast district, but after a few weeks in Parliament he had been able to see that many members knew nothing of it. Therefore, tho local members wished them to see it, .and think out what it would bo when it received the attention it deserved. The visitors were much impressed with the district, and whether he continued to represent the district or not, he felt euro the visitors would give support to the just claims of the area. The purpose of the tour was not to put petitions before the visitors, but to enable them to acquire knowledge which would produce that sympathy the district wished to receive in Parliament.

The lion. J. B. Gow also spoke. Mt. G. Witty (Riccarton) said t'he people of the south did not understand the needs of, the north, and while they were ■willing to help the North Island members in getting their wants met, they did not possess the necessary local knowledge. "I never dreamed you possessed such areas of good, land,” ho said. I has been an eye-opener, yet the surface has only been scratched.” He could assure them that the southern members wojuld support northern members in their reasonable claims. Mr. Williams, he said, had gained the respect of every shade of political opinion in the House. Mr. G. R. Sykes (Mftsterton) spoke in similar strain, and declared that it was incumbent upon the Government to give the idiistri&t facilities*. The so-called waste lands of Rotorua must have communication to pemit of their development. The Rangitikei swamp had to him been a revelation, and he would predict tha in a few years those fertile plains would blossom as the rose. As to Opotiki, they had received another revelation, and were satisfied now that all Mr. Williams had said about tho district was absolutely true. It was from a national viewpoint that this tour had been undertaken, because it had opened tho eyes of the visitors to tho vast potentialities of the district, and in the national interests tho railway should be pushed on, to "ive it connection with its natural port” which was Auckland. While the trip had been of great educational value to the visitors, it would be of great material advantage to them all. Mecsra. M. L. Reading and J. T. Paul

replied to the reference to tho power of tho Press in the matter of opening up idle lands, and so performing a national work. Consolidating European and Native Interests. Addressing tho members of Parliament at Ruatoki to-day, chiefs of the Tuoha tribe of Urewera urged the consolidation of European and Native interests in the Urewera. The young Maoris were represented by Mr. E. Biddle, who has been instrumental in securing Native labour for the East Coast railway. The visit, he said, would De a barren one if a commission were not set up in consequence to inquire into the grievances of the people, and to further the present proposals for the consolidation of both interests. Tho younger Maori people wanted the titles individualised. The poor state of some of the Ruatoki blocks was due to the fact that the people did not possess titles to thorn, and then if they did possess titles they could not finance. Some dairying was being carried out, but greater pro-gross might be made if the affairs were placed into the hands of the younger men.. He pressed the claims for a more vigorous prosecution of the East Coast railway work. As superintendent of the Native, labour on the line for thirteen months he had been able to see some of the weaknesses tor instance, mors drays were necessary, and as some of the workers were returned soldiers ho suggested that the Repatriation Department might be able to supply a number of them sith drajs, the cost of which could bo paid bac.v bv deductions from their w'ages. ‘Mr. Reid, the representative of .the Natives on tho County Council, said that as soon as the land was individualised, and each man knew his own particular section, he farmed it. Mr. Ngata promised to report the matter of the drays to the Repatriation Committee. stating that- for each extra dray eight or nine more men could be employed. . Mr. IV. S. Glenn said he had listened to what he considered modest requests, each of which had much merit. T 1 ie visitors realised their difficulties, they realised the need for' reading the Uicwera, 7,800,000 acres, and the need lor consolidating the interests of Europeans and of Natives. They were of the younger people, he said. The older people would not progress, but the younger people had to remember that the older people had grown up iu a different ago, and that if they tfbrc going slow they were going sure. He reminded the younger people of the need of industry and of the importance of holding to the traditions of the race. Mr IV. D. Lys-nar said he would join with Mr. Ngata. _in Air IV. D. Lysnar said ho would join with Mr. Ngata in striving to find the best solution of the difficulties. He repeated what ho luul said at rewa, that the Maoris should have the right to lease, sell, or mortgage their land, ami all the facilities for opening up their land should be extended to them, and when the lands were opened up they should pay rates. He agreed with the request that the interests in the Urc--svera should be consolidated. Already thev had the right to consolidate for a hapu or family. They could not dispose of their land. In the arrangement- to be made it should bo laid down that reserves for general Native use should be set aside throughout the country. rhe time, had come when they must realise their responsibilities to the country and to the Government. There was a road from Ruatahuna to Galatea which had cost £Bl,OOO many years ago. A further sum of £24.000 had been spent on the roads around IVaikaremoana. The Natives were practically the only peoide who benefited by this expenditure. He declared that the sooner tho .younger men obtained possession, of then to run them for themselves the bettei it would bo for everyone. ■ To-morrow the party will go to bisborne, via Motu.