NATIVE LANDS

Waipa Post, Volume 41, Issue 3189, 16 August 1930, Page 4

NATIVE LANDS

ACQUIRED BY THE CROWN.

An indication of the progressive policy adopted by the present Minister for Native Affairs, Sir A. P. Ngata, in making lands hitherto idle and unproductive available for settlement, may be gained from the figures given below of blocks of native land that have during the last six months been turned into Crown lands. The Minister is thus assisting not only the Maori people but also, in a very practical way, many Europeans who have been suffering hardships through having inadequate titles to their holdings.

In the Rangitoto Tuhia survey district seven blocks were acquired, the areas being 1990 acres, 147 acres, 262 acres, 281 acres, 44 acres, 65 acres, and 6333 acres, for which the aggregate purchase price was £18,318. That these were not all vacant lands is indicated by the fact that the 6333 acre block has 15 occupiers, each holding from 261 acres to 790 acres. All these lands were acquired by the Crown prior to June 30th last. In the same locality other areas were acquired by way of meetings of assembled owners, when resolutions to sell to the Crown were carried and have been confirmed. Lands so affected comprise 485 acres, 234 acres, 240 acres, 1274 acres, 29 acres, 1250 acres and 689 acres. The first three are occupied and the others are, at latest advices, unleased.

Another area of 153 acres is under offer to the Crown, but the purchase has not yet been finalised.