NATIVES AND THEIR LAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3494, 22 February 1921, Page 37

NATIVES AND THEIR LAND

WHAKATANE, February 15. Mr W. E. Veitclu M.P., replying to a toast, warned the Whakatane ‘people to avoid’ the mistakes of other towns in select i ing a wrong site for a harbour. The dis- ; trict needea a harbour, he said, and he I hoped they would proceed with the scheme I sanctioned" by the House last session. He had never seen anything like the district. In 10 or 15 years it will need only roads : and railways, but the key to all transport j was a good harbour | Mr Lvsnar said there were from four to 1 five million acres —the largest undeveloped I block of land in New Zealand. There were ; immense forests which would solve the ' timber problem. Ho urged prompt action in dealing with the cattle tick, which could I be eradicated if prompt measures were taken. The Hon. A. T. referring to the meeting of Ruatoki Natives with the I party on Thursday, said the Natives would i urge consolidating the Clown purchases of j lami, so that the Natives could consolidate I 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 legislation. The Crown owned three-fifths of I 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 I Government. Unless the dominion performs ! its duty it will produce what they want to j avoid -a race-hunger on the pakehas. At I the present time nearly all the manual ! labour in the district was performed by | Maoris. lie pleaded for confidence in tho ! young Maoris and for help to build up the | race. j Mr Hockley said the Native land legislaj tion of last session provided that money I may he advanced to Maoris, who had a duty also. They would benefit by public ex penditure on roads, schools, etc., and should understand that if they cannot cultivate their lands they must sell. The dominion wants money and production, which was possible only bv more holdings. Every | acre must be released.