THE MAORI DEPUTATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 216, 11 September 1900, Page 3

THE MAORI DEPUTATION.

(By Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter..

WELLINGTON, this day

The following is the balance of the report of the Maori deputation to the Premier, the first portion of which was published in our issue of yesterday. The Premier continuing referred to many points upon which the Government, and the Maoris are agreed, and only the details of which required settlement. The Native Land Bill was practically the same as the measure circulated last year, which- was delayed owing to differences of opinion in the Native Affairs Committee, and the natives not reconciling their objections. He hoped to have the Bills completed by the end of the week, and circulated on the following Tuesday. He had found his strength weakening during the past three months, and he would like to give effect to legislation designed to save the Maori race from extinction. If the present opportunity were neglected it would be hard to say what might happen in the future. He counselled moderation and united action in relation to the questions under discussion. His policy was to encourage a feeling of responsibility amongst the tribes, entrusting power to chiefs in dealing with village questions Latterly the committees discharged these functions, but were not recognised by law, as legislation now being, prepared was designed to recognife them. If the Councils worked well, they would warrant Parliament in granting extended powers. He dwelt on the necessity for providing for sanitation, education, assimilating the marriage laws to those m force among Europeans, preventing illicit sale of liquor, drunkenness, horse racing gambling and billiard rooms. These and other evils had done more than anything to destroy the race There was no truth in the statement circulated that he intended to permit free trade in liquor selling in tne King Country. They would be surprised when his Bill was circulated It would'show that the Government had ample means of dealing with the liquor question, but many other mat- J ters required attention, such as branding cattle, dipping sheep, preserving eel weirs, fisheries and oyster beds. He. proposed to entrust these matters to native management. He proposed to confer with Mahutsi in order to unite the tribes. After that conference he would again meet the natives now present, and announce what had been finally agreed upon. Wi Pere said; be was sorry to hear that a new purchase of native land •was now proceeding in Gisborne, showing Europeans would never desist from buying Maori lands. He proposed, with the aid of other chiefs present, to dispatch a telegram to Mahuta informing him they were awaiting his arrival. He wanted to have one race, one Queen, one law,,one country. (Cheers.) The proceedings then ended.