UREWERA LANDS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 32, 6 August 1921, Page 6

UREWERA LANDS

EARLY OPENING UP

A SATISFACTORY CONFERENCE!

For some time past negotiations have been proceeding between the Government and the Native owners for the opening up of the Urewera lands. Out of 518,000 acres in the reserve the Grown nan -purchased some 330,000, leaving 188,000 in the hands of the Native owners. The puirpose of the negotiations is the preparation~an'd acceptance by the Natives of a scheme for the consolidation of the Native and Crown interests, so that the lands purchased by the Crown may be opened for occupation. Recently the Minister of Lands (the Hon. D. H. \Guthrie) and the Minister of Native Affairs (the Hon. J. G. Ooates) attended a meeting 'of Native owners at Ruatoki. The result of that meeting was a further conferenc* for the consideration of a detailed scheme for consolidation.

The Hon. D. H. Guthrie to-day • informed a Post reporter that the negotiations were proceeding very satisfactorily, and that a report he had just receivedl indicated that there was every likelihood of th© Government scheme being adopted. The Minister expected that the country would now be ready for occupation in a much, shorter period than) had been anticipated. ■