MAORI LANDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 November 1929, Page 7

MAORI LANDS

COUNTY COUNCILS’ REQUEST

(Per Press Association.)

WHAKATANE, November 28. Sir A. T. Ngata, Native Minister, Judge Carr, Tai Mitchell, Officer in Charge of the Native Land Consolidation scheme, and Mi' Balnevis, the Minister’s private secretary met a deputation from Whakatane and Tauranga County Councils yesterday, in regard to the consolidation of Native Lands ip the Bay of Plenty, and the payment of arrears of native rates. Mr Reid, Whakatane, County Chairman, explained that £19,000 was owing to his county, and with the next two years’ rates during consolidation would bring the amount to £25,000. He asked, in view of the valuable lands held by natives, and the expensive working schemes undertaken by the Council, that the commission award not less than 25 per cent of the arrears. Mr C. E. McMillan, M.P., supported the request and contended that native rates uncollected ' should be paid out of the consolidated fund, as being more equitable than the districts with.large native populations having to bear the full burden. Sir A. T. Ngata explained that the Ngatiawa natives in the Opotiki and Whakatane districts had decided upon the scheme of consolidation, and the Whakatane natives had offered to the Crown approximately 6000 acres of land by way of compensation for payment of arrears of rates. The' Government valuation of land, however, was about £5OO short of the amount required to make up 25 per cent of the total rate arrears on the native lands concerned in Whakatane. The matter would be submitted to the Native Land Consolidation Commission at Rotorua, and a reply would be sent to the Council within a week. The Chairman of j the Tauranga County (Mr Sinclair) pointed out there were 50,000 acres of native lands in Tauranga on which native rates were not collectable. The Minister promised to go into the position of the Tauranga land with the Commission.