TAUMARUNUI LEASES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11293, 19 August 1922, Page 8

TAUMARUNUI LEASES

QUESTION OF PURCHASE. EXPLANATION BY MINISTER. When was the Native Land Purchase Board likely to proceed with the purchase of native leases in the township of Taumarunui under the Act of 1919? asked Mr It. W. Smith (Waimarino), in Parliament yesterday. The matter had been under tlse consideration of the Government quite recently, replied the Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister for Native Affairs). It was possible to make arrangements under the Act for the purchase of leaseholds, and he understood that the lessees desired the freehold of their sections and had lodged their applications. There was only one difficulty in the way, and that was that there had been so many applications that £123,000 in the way of advances would have to be found out of the consolidated revenue. The plain fact wan that at the present moment the Government could not meet the demand. The department had arranged that the purchases could he made, provided the lessees themselves could arrange satisfactory terms with the natives. Further than that he was afraid it. was impossible for the Government to assist. He could not seo why the Taumarunui lease-holders could not do as the leaseholders on the West Coast had done, themselves arrange the purchase with the natives.