MINISTER OF NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Wanganui Herald, Issue 12856, 18 May 1912, Page 8

MINISTER OF NATIVE AFFAIRS.

{Per Press Assor-intlon ) GISBOKNE, May 17. \ The Hon W. S. D. McDonald, Minis- I ter of Works and Native Affairs, was entertained by his constituents at Te- i karaka last evening. There was a large and enthusiastic gathering. Speeches i were delivered by Sir James Carroll, | the Mayor of Gisborne, and others, and ! Mr Mac Donald was presented with an i illuminated address. Accompanied by i Sir James Carroll, the Minister (left ' for Wairoa this morning, opening the t Xuhaka bridge en route. j The Native Minister, in the course of : an interview, announced that last year’s | operations in connection with transac- j lions for the alienation of native land i showed great progress, the figures be- j ing—Lands dealt with by way of lease ’ JO.OOO acres, dealt with by way of sale ’ 319,867, purchased by the Crown 91,774. Probably 30,000 acres were purchased by the Crown Lands Department, and a further 100,000 acres under negotiations at March 31 are mow practically completed, making a total I for the year, approximately, of 800,000 acres. Mr Mac Donald holds that the surplus lands can bo dealt with more on the lines of Crown lands than is being done under existing conditions. He is thoroughly investigating the working of the Native Department, and considers the Land Courts should complete their work about three years from now.