MAORIS AT ORAKEI

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21295, 23 September 1932, Page 10

MAORIS AT ORAKEI

MODEL VILLAGE SCHEME QUESTION OF LAND TITLE HOPES FOR NEW TENURE Proposals for improving the Orakei native settlement were briefly discussed by the City Council last evening. The / 'lamaki Women's Progressive League wrote advocating tlio creation of a model Maori village on the site of the present; settlement. The league stated that under proper supervision the inhabitants could be given an opportunity to earn a livelihood by working at native arts and. crafts. The Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, moved that the letter be referred to tho Parks Committee. He said tho proposal was iu line with his own views, but it had appeared quite early that thero was a legal difficulty, in that the natives had sold to the Crown all the village site except a little over two acres. He had been in touch with the Native Department and the Minister of Native Affairs, Sir Apirana Ngata, upon the subject, and until the legal position was cleared up ho could not recommend anyone to spend money on any improvement project. However, ho believed that it would be possible to arrange with the Native Department to give a tenuro sufficient for the purpose, tho Mayor added. There was a prospect that if that were done funds would be forthcoming from certain local organisations which had approached him. Mr. A. J. Entrican said he hoped that the council might obtain tenure of the 12 acres composing the village flat and some further land in addition. He believed "that the village and its surroundings could be made most attractive. The motion was carried.