NATIVE SCHEMES

Southland Times, Issue 22491, 28 January 1935, Page 8

NATIVE SCHEMES

MINISTER’S INTEREST TOUR OF SETTLEMENTS UNDERTAKEN CEREMONIAL WELCOMES (Per United Press Association.) Whakatane, January 27. Continuing his tour of the native settlement schemes as Native Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes spent Saturday in visiting the schemes around Rotorua, about nine in number, including Horo Horo, where 35 families, including a number from Wairoa and Hawkes Bay, are settled in tiny cottages on 3000 acres, and Tikitere, where the Waikato, East Coast and local natives have reclaimed 1800 acres from gorse and scrub. Unfortunately, Sir Apirana Ngata, who is in Rotorua, was unable to accompany him owing to illness. At mid-day, Mr Forbes visited Whakarewarewa, where he was given a ceremonial welcome, and paid his respects to the memory of the late Chief, Mita Taupopoki. Addressing the Maoris, he said that Mita Taupopoki had done a fine service to his people by wise counsel and active assistance in land development. In the afternoon he was welcomed with much enthusiasm by a large gathering at Mourea village, between Lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti, where the speakers assured him of the people’s keenness to push on the settlement of their own lands and provide a future for their children. Mr Forbes, in replies to both welcomes, expressed pleasure at the way in which the Maori people had supported Sir Apirana Ngata in the fulfilment of his dream. He was satisfied from earlier and present inspections that the schemes which had been commenced were wise and the Maori people were doing their best in their determination to see the tiling through. To-day Mr Forbes continued his journey to Whakatane, _ inspecting schemes near Lake Rotoiti, Te Puke, Tauranga and Maketu and calling at the native villages of Hairini and Maketu, where he received ceremonial welcomes. He reached Whakatane in the evening.