MAORI CONGRESS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13168, 15 July 1908, Page 7

MAORI CONGRESS.

♦ (PEZSB ASSOCIATION TZLEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, July 14. Not since the signing of the Treaty of Waita-ngi, with the possible exception of the Itotorua assemblage, when the. Duke and Duchcas of York vi&ited New Zealand, -has there been "brought together such a unique and representative gathering of prominent Maoris as that «?en in the Town Hall this afternoon. The occasion was the official opening of the -Maori Congress. Several hundred citizens and their wives attended to -witness the proceedings, ilia Excellency tho Governor was welcomed with a stirring -Uaori cry of greeting, and with him arrived on. tho platform Sir Robert Stout (president of the Congress), who took the chair, the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), the Native Minister (-Vir James Carroll;, and Mr James AUon, M.P., representing the Opposition in the absence of Jir Maesey. There were also on the platform Lady Stout, Lady Ward, and tho Mayoress, Mrs T. W. Hislop. Sir .Robert Stout brietiy tnanked the Maoris for Laving appointed him chairman, saying ho leto it a great honour to be present ab tne opening of the Conference. ilis .Excellency tho Governor, after welcoming the delegates and others present, renvarKed: "There is on© subject -which I wish to speak about wiucu has come before mc constantly since 1 came to New Zealand, and upon, -which I think the foundation of your future prosperity entirely rests. Tltat subject is the belief which is still held by, at any rate, a certain number of the older Maoris, that the Government of New Zealand is not to bo appealed' to, but that the wisest course is to appeal to the King at Home. So long as that false and futile impression is fostered, co long will the millstone hang round the necks of the Maori people, and so long will the efforte made by the educated Maoris who are striving to xaise their countrymen bo of no avail. If the duty of seeing justice done rests with the King and tho Imperial Government, the likelihood of perfect justice for the Maori people would be greatly lessened, for then the heavy responsibility which really rests -upon this Government would be co lightened that they would not feel so much responsibility themselves. If any of you insist upon considering that your real father is the King and the Government at Horse, and- that tho Government and people, out here are only your etepfather, you cannot expect to receive from them that perfect justice, »nd- more than justice, which a father »i ill render to his children. No, I wouldearnestly endeavour to impress upon you that the first step in your decision cannot be mad© properly until those amongst you who still look upon the King's protection, the mere words of the Treaty of Waitangi, realise that these must bo taken in the spirit and not in the, letter, and; that it is not upon merely his Majesty and the ab; tual words of the Treaty that the futuro raisine of your counitryanen depends. Now that upraising really depends upon your own self-reliance ana determination to acquire the good points of the \rhito man, and to avoid nis evils. This is the moment, when you are all assembled here this year, that the real chance for the , Maori people depends. Tho Maori population and their actual well-being are at present in a stationary condition, and upon the way you consider the numerous important questions which are being brought before, you, and the way you' carry them out depends now more than ever what your race is to be. I hopo you will forgive mc for speaking so very plainly as I have spoken. It would have been much easier to say nice things, but my heart is with the Maori people, and I have endeavoured to say something that will be useful to them."

Sir Joseph Ward said ho saw in tho gathering the dawn of a new day, ami, he hoped, a brighter uay, for the Maori people. The Congress would afford an opportunity for summing up and tabulating what had 'been accomplished by Maori enterprise along the various lines of progress. It was a hopeful sign that the -Maoris were adopting modern ideas touching land and agriculture, and that .there was a rapidly growing acceptance of the doctrine that the salvation of the people was only possible through labour. Public opinion among the Maoris was growing, and this, too, was a hopeful sign *or tho future. "Perhaps it may be eaid," remarked the Prime Minister, "that the State has been remiss in its duty in some respects to the Maori people,' but I maintain that in this country, and upon the whole we of the British race have sought to do our duty under varying circumstances, according to the best of our light, to assist the Maori people in Us upward progress. Perhaps impatience has been shown at times with what the strenuous white man would term "the tardiness of the Maori people.' If such has been shown, our Maori friends should appreciate that in a raoidly advancing country such as this is, and in tho stress of our modern life, it is difficult, to at all times look at the same problems from the standpoint of the white man as the Maori -people would view them." Sir Joseph concluded by assuring the Maoris assembled that they had tho sympathy of their fellow-colonists of the white race.

Mr James Allen, M.P., spoko briefly in place of Mr Massey. Tβ Houkeu Tukino, the noted Taupo chief, and Mr A. T. Ngata, M.P., returned thanks, the latter saying that the Congjess was devised with the idea of bringing the best among the Maoris into contact with the beet among tho Europeans. He hoped that during tho years to come the best of his people would more and more come to appreciate the good there was in our civilisation. If the Europeans could: so impress the delegates to the Congress that they would go homo and tell their people that the pakeha methods wero all right and should be adopted, then one of the chief objects of the Congress would have been obtained.

Quaint musical iteme were contributed at intervals by the Rotorua Maori entertainers and by East Coast natives.