NATIVE FACILITIES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17096, 31 October 1929, Page 7

NATIVE FACILITIES

LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT A WASHING-UP BILL (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. In tho annual Native Washing-up Land Bill there arc 6.1 clauses, and some which are of general interest were explained to the House by the Native Minister, Sir Apirana Ngata. Three special clauses make provision for the development of land in a similar manner to that of the Land Act passed this session. It is intended, said Sir Apirana, that natives themselves should develop and fpke Up land, and financial provision.'to the extent of £250,000 would be provided from the native land settlement account, this expenditure spreading over five years. Authority was also being taken to raise £500,000 for this account, and native land boards were to bo given power to guarantee advances of dairy companies to native dairy farmers, subject to the guarantee ot landed security. This would specially meet conditions in North Auckland.

The bill also proposed to set up a native investment guarantee fund for which purpose £SOOO would be invested with the. Public Trustee and remain at compound interest till £IO,OOO was available, a sum which he was advised was quite adequate. Sir Apirana said that one of the clauses provided for preventing waste of timber in the Taupo totara timber area. It had been found that, when the block was being changed over, old owners often laid waste the timber. That Avas to be stopped. As a result of a declaratory judgment, a clause was being put in affecting Lake Taupo. , The bill Avas -read a first time and then the second time pro forma, after which it Avas referred to the Native Affairs Committee.