THE FUTURE OF THE MAORI.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13094, 20 April 1908, Page 5

THE FUTURE OF THE MAORI.

ADDRESS BY -SIR ROBERT STOUT.

(press association telegram.) AUCKLAND, April 19. j Addressing a -native mooting at Kaikoho, Sir Robert Stout said the Maori raco had decreased, and the question was, df the deereaso was to' go on, or were the -Maoris to rise in .their strength and increase? The Maoris must answer tha-t question themselves, for no race could be Bared but 'by its own exertions. They must be industrious. If--a peoplo were wealthy! and brought up their children to do nothing they died cff. They saw that j amongst the Europeans. Maoris had ; been trained for centuries for an outdoor Mfc, and it* they -wished to live ,as a race they should continue their outdoor life, become skilful farmers, l and make their land produce as much jas tho Europeans did. Referring to j the native land legislation, and the object for -which that meeting was being held, Sir Robert said that tho Maori raco had now got to-the parting of the ways, and the question was whether they would go to the left or to the right. There was a great pressure of Europeans, all demanding land, not only Maori hut also p-akeha land, when it was held in large blocks, and thousands of acres had been taken by the Government from the pakeha, the owners being, of courso, paid for it. More land had been taken in that way ■ than all the Bay of Islands country. Now most of that land vraa c_ltivated, and the big pakeha owners said that the Government was taking land from them which was being cultivated, while leaving alono thousands of acres of Maori land with which nothing was being done in the way of cultivation. Therefore, it was, that he nrged the Maoris to utilise their land, lest it be taken from them. Tbev wanted the Maoris to sekct first the land they •wanted for their own use, for papakiangas and ior the farmers. They wanted the old Maoris to put tho young men on tie land, so tha-t they might become .-killed far_a-«. That was the way to preserve t_«ir 3a__j.