P.M.'s 3-Day Visit To Bay, Mainly On Maori Affairs

Northern Advocate, 19 October 1949, Page 4

P.M.' s 3-Day Visit To Bay, Mainly On Maori Affairs

KAIKOIiE, Wed. (Sp.).—The Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) will visit Kaikohe on October 28, 29 and 30. Primary purpose of his visit is to meet the leaders of the five main Tai-Tokerau tribes to hear representations on the subject of compensation moneys to be paid by the Government in respect of surplus lands.

Tentative plans have also been made for Mr Fraser to speak at a public political rally in the Kaikohe theatre on Saturday night, October 29. VISIT RAPANA MAORIS Mr Fraser has expressed willingness to appear at such a meeting. On the same day, it is expected that he will pay a comprehensive visit to (he Absolute Maori Church settlement established by Rapana at Te TiiMangonui, Bay of Islands. During the week-end he will fulfil a promise to revisit Northland College, in which he has always shown a personal interest. SURPLUS LANDS PROBLEMS Mr Fraser, who is also Minister of Maori Affairs, will probably be accompanied by the Under-Secretary for Maori Affairs (Mr T. T. Ropiha) and the secretary to the Minister of Maori Affairs (Mr M. Jones). The matter of surplus lands has been a burning question with Northland Maoris for nearly a century. In October, two years ago, a Royal Commission sat in Kaikohe for a fortnight under Sir Michael Myers to investigate, among other matters, the surplus lands of Northland. The commission’s recommendations, published six months later, urged payment by the Government of considerable sums by way of compensation. The Maoris have never been quite happy about certain aspects of the commission's findings and will take the opportunity of presenting their case to the Prime Minister. ALL-NIGHT KORERO The meeting will be held in the Kotahitanga Hall, a mile west of Kaikohe—a marae to which Mr Fraser is no stranger. Invitations have been sent out to 150 leaders of the Ngapuhi, Ngatiwhatun, Ngatikahu, Te Rarawa and Te Aupori tribes. They will meet at Te Kotahitanga Hall on the Thursday and will hold one of their famous all-night koreros t< finalise the points to be made to the Prime Minister, the manner in which they will be made and the speakers.