LAND CONSOLIDATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 5

LAND CONSOLIDATION

UR EWER A HOLDING S. WELLINGTON, June 21. The conference between all the Urower* chiefs and the representatives of the Lands and Native Affairs Department, which is to be held at Kuatoke on July 18 to discuss the consolidation of both Grown and Native holdings in the Urewera district, is the outcome of a recent visit of the Minister of Native Affairs (the Hon. J. G. Coates) and tho Minister of Lands (the Hon. D. H. Gfftlirie) to lluatoke, where, with the Hon. A. T. Ngata, representing the Natives, they- suggested a draft scheme of consolidation to the Urewera Natives, and which they affirmed. The conference is for the purpose of preparing a complete scheme of consolidation for submission to the Gover-nor-General, of Grown Purchases, also of the interests of non-sellers in the various blocks comprising the Urewera Native reserve. Gut of 518,000 acres in the reserve, tho Crown has purchased some 330,000 acres in all, leaving 188,000 acres in the hands of the Natives. Mr R. J. Knight (in charge of the Native Lands Branch at Auckland) and Mr W. 11. Bowler (Chief Linds Purchase Officer for the South Auckland . district) will represent the Lands Department at tho conference, Mr H. H. Carr (deputy president of the Waiariki Maori Land Board) will represent the Native Affairs Department, and the Hon. A. T. Ngata will represent the Natives.