Nos. 172 and 173.—Petitions of Wiremu Mahupuku and Others.

Petitioners pray that the Native Land Purchase Department may be done away with, so that no more of their lands may be purchased by the Government, as they are now getting impoverished for want of land.

I am directed to report as follows: That, as these petitions refer to matters of public policy, this Committee has no recommendation to make.