Maoris’ Claims on Land for which State Paid Eightpence an Acre

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1947, Page 7

Maoris’ Claims on Land for which State Paid Eightpence an Acre

Kauris Felled By Way of Protest P.A. WHANGAREI, May 19. Several individual injunctions have been served to prevent a group of Maoris from cutting kauri timber in the Puketi State Forest. Maoris have been warned that if the injunctions, which were issued by the Supreme Court in Auckland, are not obeyed, further action may be taken by the police. The cutting of kauris is designed as a protest against delay in the settlement of native claims to the ownership of a large part of this forest. The Maoris are now forbidden to enter the forest.

A, week ago Maoris gave an assurance that they would take no action for four or five -days, so as to give the Government time to consider the question; but on Wednesday last a large kauri was felled, and a gang of Maoris said that their numbers would be doubled to J day (Monday). Forest rangers have patrolled roads in the vicinity to ensure that none of the timber is taken, and there is no evidence that any logs have been removed. Almost 90 years ago the Crown bought over 7000 acres of the Takapau block, on which the forest is situated. Only eighfpence an acre was -paid for the block by the Government. In recent years the Maoris in the district have strongly contested the validity of that transaction. The forest is between Kaeo and Okaihau. The descendants of the original tribal owners presented a petition to Parliament in 1941. Prior to that, in 1939, a claim for compensation was heard by the Native Land Couit. The Prime Minister promised an investigation of the claims when he visited Kaikohe in March last.