UREWERA COUNTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16009, 30 August 1915, Page 9

UREWERA COUNTRY.

EXPEDITING SETTLEMENT.

BUYING NATIVE INTERESTS.

MINISTER EXPLAINS POLICY.

An important statement regarding the steps which are being taken toward? the opening for settlement of the natwe binds in the Urewera country has been made bv ' the Hon. W. H. Hemes, Minister for Native Affairs, in a letter to Mr R Burns, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. The Minister wrote m j reply to the suggestion made bv the Chamber of Commerce that he should convene a meeting of the Maoris interested and use his influence and authority to induce them to sell the block to the Gov - verament as one area, permitting them to retain such reserves as the Minister might, arrange for their own use.

"The question is engaging the earnest, and active attention of the Native Land Purchase Board," the Minister wrote. "I think anyone will agree that that board, consisting, as it does, of the Native Minister, chairman, the Under-Secretary for Native Affairs, the Under-Secretary for Crown Lands, and the Valuer-General, is fully qualified to deal with such a difficult and complex subject. I am not at liberty to disclose the decisions of that board, but I may say that our endeavours are directed towards the efficient settlement of the reserve in as short a time as possible, consistent with our duties to the rights and desires of the native owners.

"We are at present purchasing further interests in the blocks at the north-east I end of the reserve, in which the Crown has already made purchases. We are not waiting for the detailed survey to be made of *he blocks before purchasing. This we consider is not necessary at the present time. As soon as we have purchased all the interests we can in these blocks a detailed survey will be made and reserves for the non-sellers will be cut out. We arc also starting to purchase at the western end of the reserve where the i native owners are desirous of selling. litis necessitated a valuation being made, which is now complete. " During the recess I propose to visit the district." the Minister adds, "to meet any of the native owners who are desirous of seeing me and arranging with them, as you suggest, as to reserves, etc. The question of reading is engaging the attention of the Lands and Survey Department. The other matters mentioned by you will receive my careful attention."