THE FAR NORTH

Northern Advocate, 21 April 1933, Page 6

THE FAR NORTH

LANDS AND SCHOOLS MINISTERS ON TOUR. IMPRESSED WITH NATIVES. (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) KAITAIA, This Day. The cry of Northland —more settlers —was interpreted to the Minister of Lands, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, by settlers of Motutangi on Wednesday. More settlers in that district, they said, would be an advantage to all, and the Minister was urged to settle Crown lands.

On Wednesday morning Mr Ransom and the Minister of Education, the Hon. R. Masters, left Kaitaia for a tour of the extreme North.

The Motutangi settlers told the Minister they had worked as hard as anyone in New Zealand, draining and improving the land, and although they had been in occupation for two years only, eleven of them were milking 270 cows. The large area adjoining the settlement had been surveyed and they thought it should be settled. The survey, Mr Ransom said, had been made with the idea of opening the laud, and if it Avere suitable it Avould be settled.

‘At Te Kao native settlements, both Ministers were surprised at the healthy; and well-dressed appearance of the native school children. Renovations Promised.

The chairman of the School Committee, Mr Era Ihaka, eaid that hitherto the Tc Kao people had not made any requests to the Government, but now it seemed appropriate to do so. Ho outlined the history of the school, stating it was established in 1881 with a raupo building, which was replaced by the present school and residence in the following year. After 52 years the building had deteriorated and the number of pupils had so increased that in a short time it would bo too small. Mr Masters, he said, was the first Minister of Education to visit the district since the school was established. Mr Ihaka asked that a new school be erected, suggesting that the present building could be converted into a workshop for technical classes.

Mr Masters assured the natives that Cabinet whole-heartedly supported Sir Apirana Ngata in the work he was doing for the Maoris. Unfortunately the time was not opportune for rebuilding the school, but he promised to have it repaired and remodelled, stating that in this manner the building would be made suitable for many years.

Mr Masters then visited Te Hapua where he promised to have the school residence renovated and the school remodelled, with an addition and the closing in of an open-air room. Territorial Dispute.

"While at Te Kao Mr Ransom was approached in regard to the dispute over the Wairahi lands and was asked to have it cleared up. The history of the dispute, they said, was that under an agreement made in .1895, the s Crown purchased large areas of land, but it was evident that a mistake was made in the survey when fixing the boundaries, so that the natives lost some hundreds of acres. It was stated that an error had been admitted and £SOOO had been offered in compensation. This had been declined, and the natives were still asking that the land be returned.

A promise to look into the question was made by Mr Ransom, who said, it was desirable that the Maoris have ample lands to farm.

The Ministers and party then went to the -Te Paid station, where they spent the night, returning to Ivaitaia by the Ninety Milo Beach yesterday morning. On the trip they visited the Ahipara, Manukau and Pukepoto native schools.

A school building was asked of the Minister by the Manukau people. The school started there in an old meeting house and there tvas uoav an averago attendance of 43. The Minister said he Avonld approach Cabinet and ask for a grant for a school and a small bach for two teachers.

During the day Mr Masters visited the Kaitaia and AAvanui schools.