THE NATIVE LAND QUESTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 81, 3 April 1908, Page 2

THE NATIVE LAND QUESTION.

END OF NGARUAWAHIA MEETING.

The Hon. J. Carroll, Native Minister, accompanied by his private secretary (Mr. W. Gordon), also by Mr. A. Ngata, ALP., Mr. Te Eeuheu Tnkino, and other chiefs, arrived from Ngarajvahia by the 2.30 train this afternoon. Interviewed by a "Star"' representative, the Hon. Mr. Carroll said that although the meeting was over, up to the present only about half the work had been completed. So far, at the, Ngaruawahia meeting, 31,115 acres had been set a.part for kaingas, native reserves, and farming, Also 72,911 acres for leasing purposes, and practically about 57,962 acres for sale, in the several counties. There will be at least 500,000 acres dealt with before the movement initiated by the meetings is brought to a conclusion. The above figures refer only to what has been done at Ngaruawahia, and do not include anything decided at Waharoa. At the conclusion of the meeting at Ngaruawahia, the Hon. Mahuta, addressing the Hon. the Native Minister, said:— "I have a word to say to you before the multitude to-day. It is a final word, and carries with it the ending of all that has gone before, and the raising of a new standard henceforth; the dreams and aspirations, the hopes and aims of those who once guided our destinies are now clearly in the region of the unattainable. Our great chiefs and' elders have crossed the border, and with them the strength and potency of those cherished ideals to which they stood firm. Yet in ike present, oh! Minister, you have eased the severance of the two periods by offering us proposals which if we accept will not only turn our faces to the light and give us an active share SB the working oat of the problems that afject our well-being, but you have seasoned those proposals with a fair con-1 sideration of our past as to make them wholesome to the Maori heart.

Touaskustowork through and under the law. Yes, we wul do that, for you say we can exercise the privilege we esteem so much, and have always strained for; feat is, of handling, arranging and dividing our own lands for the several purposes which are commendable to us, for the setting apart of reserves, for the setting apart of areas to be farmed by •ns, for the setting apart of areas to be leased to the world, and for areas to be sold. I will not conceal the fact selling must form a material part in any scheme of land disposition. We accept this, and pave the way to a new future. This ending of all our differences, and opening up of new paths is your work, oh! Minister, and meet "it is that one of ourselves should provide the balm.

my people, hearken, we are conceded the right of disposing of our own under the law. B7 the voice of the people shall be decided the various modes of disposition and management of our lands. Was ifrnq.t'for sflmethmg like this that our elders strives.- Those who crossed-the wide seas in _ayi gone by to ventilate their grievances before the seat" of Majesty were told to appeal to tb e authority of our own land. As it was then so it is now. Let us therefore conclude matters within our own time, and at once recognise the futility of going elsewhere as in the past. We are met by the Minister on this occasion with proposals and concessions that we can ill afford to give otilique attention to. My pronouncement to-day, and let none of you disregard it, is: We accept. We agree to work under the law and to do our best to promote ■ settlement, and strengthen the dugs of Mother Earth, that she may give greater nourishment to her children. I have spoken.*'