NATIVE AFFAIRS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19124, 19 September 1936, Page 8

NATIVE AFFAIRS

DEPARTMENT'S REPORT LOCAL ADMINISTRATION SALES AND LEASES (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Tho estimated area ,of native lands still owned by Maoris in the North Island of Now Zealand is now 3,808,230 acres, according to the report oti the Native Department covering the operations of native land courts and Maori, land boards. During the financial year ended on March 31 last, the ■ sales of native land totalled 20,651 acres, ,of which 910 acres was purchased by the Crown. Of the total area of nearly 4,000,000 acres still owned by the Maoris, (354,253 acres is vested in the Maori land boards. Funds held or invested by these boards on account of the natives total £650,000, of which £155,768 is on deposit, with rite Native Trustee, and #58,743 is in Government securities. The bulk of the board's funds, ,oi! course, are invested in settlement; schemes in the various districts, £443,071 boing under ,this heading. Private dealings in native lands have reduced the Maori holdings by over 110,000 acres, while new leases effected during the year involved an aggregate of 71,051 acres. In the previous year, sales were more extensive by 2000 acres, while leaseholds wore taken over 34,594 acres only, the latter figure being much lower than for 1935CONSOLIDATION AND HOUSING In a general review of the work of the boards and courts, the report •'During the year the various consolidation schemes have been pushed forward, but, as indicated last year, tho progress of this important branch of the department's activities has been hampered bv the lack of trained staff. "Special attention has been oivou to I he question of the improvement or the living conditions of die Maoris, and to this end tho Native Housing Act. was passed last year. The. regulations enabling the Act to be put info operation have been drafted and are at present; under consideration by the Government. However, some progress already litis been made towards advancing this important; phase of the department's work, and much thought lias been given to the most: suitable class of house. Various types of dwellings are being considered, including iron and pise construction, and arrangements already have been made with the Public "Works Department to erect experimental buildings of these materials. Officers of the Health Department are co-operating in this matter. '•'['lie unemployment funds provided by the Labour Department afforded employment relief to approximately 3300 individuals through this department during the year, Die total sum .paid out being £119,991 bis 4d. The

supervision of this branch of the work is carried out by the department's I field officers. i "Tho Raukawn meeting-house at Otaki was opened in the presence of the Native Minister on March 14. The erection of this building is yet another step by the Maori people towards the fostering of their ancient customs and the preservation of Maori arts and ' crafts. "Dealings in native lands during the year show an increase in the number of transactions recorded, there being a substantial increase in the area alienated by way of lease but a decrease in tho area sold."