MAORI LAND PROBLEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20598, 24 June 1930, Page 10

MAORI LAND PROBLEMS.

TITLES AND DEVELOPMENT.

SOLVING THE DIFFICULTIES. ACTIVITIES OF MINISTER. The efforts of Sir Apirana Ngata, Minister of Nativo Affairs, to solvo tho problem of idle Nativo lands are being watched with considerable interest in tho King Country at present. During the last six months Sir Apirana has been engaged in endeavouring to individualise the titles on several blocks in the vicinity of To Kuiti and with Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., has inspectod nearly 20,000 acres with a view to development and tho discovery of a solution of tho difficulties engendered. Discussing tho Minister's efforts, Mr. Broadfoot, at Te Kuiti last week, said that Sir Apirana was taking a long perspective of the development of tho King Country and was giving to the Maori peoplo tho leadership that they had lacked for the last 30 years. His policy was to give the Maoris an opportunity to work their own land to increase tho productivity of tho country and at the samp timo build up thoir own self-reli-ance. Freehold at Tangltu, During tho last few months ho had tackled the problems at Tangitu. Lying to the west of Waimiha, a small township on the Main Trunk railway north of Taumarunui, there was a block of 80CO acres which was cut up somo time ago into leases for 23 years with a right of renewal for a similar term. The titles were not good, in fact there was very littlo tenuro at all. Sir Apirana had freeholded the whole area and every tenant could now operate on a deferred payment system. On tho oast of Waimiha the Minister was also developing several thousand acres of a big area of native and Crown lands. A camp had been established and 15 Maoris woro at work under supervision. It wa3 hoped tho Minister of Lands would be induced to take up further areas in tho same locality where it was claimed that top-dressing over a period, of years had given wonderful results. Area at Poro-o-tarao. The block recently purchased at Poro-o-tarao thrust into a large area of native land. One section, tho Tiroa block, on which timber was still being cut, offered a largo area of land suitable for settlement. An area of 200 acres in the middle of it which was being successfully farmed by a Maori, was being watched by Sir Apirana as an experimental farm. If tho possibilities of the area proved satisfactory there were many thousands of acres of similar land fit for settlement. North of To Ivuiti toward Te Awamutu there were many settlers, both European and Maori, with unsatisfactory tenures. These cases had been investigated by the Minister, who was endeavouring to freehold tho bulk of the block in trouble. Applications would como before tho Maori Land Board, covering nearly 6000 acres, for frceholding. Most lessees held too much land and there would probably be a reorganisation of the distribution. It was all good quality land, well roaded, and suitable for mixed farming. Activities In Other Centres.

On the main road to Taranaki control had been assumed of the Totoro block of 4300 acres under last year's legislation and the whole of it was being devel oped. At present 50 relief workers were putting a road through and another gang wero engaged in sowing grass-seed. By next March it was hoped that 800 acres would have been sown. This area had many historical associations from the Maori point of view and it was being reserved for Maori settlement entirely.

Toward Kawhia and round the harbour tho Taharoa block had been taken in hand. That area comprised 15,000 acres of very good country, mostly in grass of tho poorer kind. Tho Minister was straightening out all the titles so that the Maoris could know what land they owned. Backing was being given to the settlers to finance the purchase of fertilisers, seed and stock. The money was all being spent under tho supervision of tho Minister's nominee. Similar development of areas south of Arapuni was also under consideration.