LANDLESS NATIVES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 810, 2 November 1929, Page 14

LANDLESS NATIVES

NO PROVISION IN BILL FOR SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION’S VIEWS The land settlement scheme for Maoris, under the Native Affairs Bill, has one flaw—it does not provide for the acquisition of lands to settle landjess Maoris. This opinion was given at a meeting of the Aliarana Maori Association, which now proposes to form a deputation to meet the New Zealnd Land Settlement League, probably next week, to review the phases of settlement proposals concerning natives. The present Government scheme, which is now before the Native Affairs Committee, provides for an expenditure of £250,000 in four or five Speakers at the association last evening gave as their view that the plan dealt purely with how to settle Maoris who own land on their land. I The plan was approved" in its provisions for Maoris possessing property, but the speakers regretted that the legislation was not solving the problem of landless ‘Maoris. Since the Koheroa blocks once retained for Maori Settlement, was thrown open for selection by Europeans and natives, the association has been pressing the claims of landless natives seeking to take up - farming. So far, the representations to the Government have not had satisfactory results.