CONFISCATED LANDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 667, 20 May 1929, Page 16

CONFISCATED LANDS

TARANAKI MAORIS DISSATISFIED OFFER OF COMPENSATION Press Association NEW PLYMOUTH, Sunday. The proposal of the Government to pay £5,000 a year to the Taranaki natives as compensation for lands confiscated since the Maori War was the subject of a further conference at Waitara at the week-end. Dissatisfaction with the offer has been expressed by a number of natives. The Minister of Native Affairs, Sir Apirana Ngata, attended the conference and strongly urged the Maoris to accept the offer of £ 5,009 a year in perpetuity in the spirit of conciliation in which it was tendered. However, he said the Government would consider any further suggestions they had to make. Sir Apirana said the Taranaki natives were more fortunate than those of the Waikato, who had been offered only £3,000 a year. A complaint was made by a native deputation to the Minister that the Taranaki Maoris were not receiving fair treatment in comparison with other provinces with regard to assistance, particularly in regard to the education of young Maoris from the fund of £IOO,OOO, derived chiefly from rents, and administered by the Maori Purposes Board. In pointing out that the disposal of the fund was entirely in the hands of tho board, Sir Apirana promised to consider the problem sympathetically.