NATIVES AND THEIR LAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18172, 17 February 1921, Page 6

NATIVES AND THEIR LAND

Uhtto Pun Association.) ; WHAKATANJE, February 16. v Mr W. E. Veitch, M.P., replying to a toast, warned the Whakatane people to avoid the mistakes of other towns in selecting a wrong site for a harbour. The district needed a harbour, Ihe said, and he - - hoped they would proceed with the scheme sanctioned by the House last session. He had never seen anything like the district. ■ la 10 or 15 years it will need only roads f and railways, but the key to all transport was a good harbour. N Mr Lysnar sajd there were from four to five million acres—the largest' undeveloped block of land in New Zealand. There were ''immense forests which would solve the timber problem. He urged prompt action in dealing with the cattle tick, which could ho eradicated if prompt measures were ■.taken. ♦ ■ The Hon. A. T. Ngata, in referring to the meeting of Buatoki Natives with the party on Thursday, said the Natives would ' urge consolidating the Crown purchases of lancj, so that the Natives could consolidate their interests around existing settlements. ■ He made no apology for the Maori people—they find them as the Creator made them; but he made apologies for the Legislature ' which made the existing Native land legisf lation. The Crown owned three-fifths of v the land in the Urewera, and the Maoris wanted to know what was to become of these non-sellers, who refuse to sell to the Government. Unless the dominion performs i ; its duty it will produce what they want to avoid—a race-hunger on the pakehas. At : the present time nearly all the manual labour in the district was performed by Maoris. He pleaded for confidence in the young Maoris and for help to build up the race. Mr Hockley said the Native' land legislation of last session provided that money may be advanced to Maoris, who had a duty also. They would benefit by public expenditure on roads, schools, etc., and should understand that if they cannot cultivate their lands they must sell. The dominion „ want* money and production, which was possible only bv more holdings. Every acre must be released.