MAORI ADVANCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 250, 15 July 1908, Page 8

MAORI ADVANCE.

. TESTIMONY OF LEADING NATIVES. SPEECH BY HOX.'J. CARROLL. ' There .were, a few strangers present,. and. a large attendance of Maoris, at a meeting held in the Municipal' Concert Hall last evening, at which representative Native officials gave their testimony, to the improvements that have been effected in their districts. • First, however, the Hon. James Carroll (Native. Minister) made a.short address. He Said thai/lie!'was pleased—beyond the power of words to express—at the splendid gathering witnessed that day at the great inaugural function. From far and near they had come, as if at-the:call"to arms, to arms;" and had collected together their forces in' order to giye battle! and - register victories along the path of advancement. What he saw in his mind that. day. was a great picture. There were'representatives of the Maoris' chief lines of- ancestry; of old families and old' schools of 1 thought, . who in harmony were striving, side bjj'side with those of modern culture and ideals, to solve the-great question,- within which their interests were deeply involved. would also be highly honoured' and gratified-.that. day. in'having the .great chief of, the Pakeha,. people addressing , them in earnest, terms,' conveying to them the Pakehas' sympa'thy, offering tliem' encouragement, proffering''them assistance, and; above all, acknowledging their claims to justice,! equal privileges, and rights of citizenship. It was a great thing'to thorn to bo received as fellow citizens-.Tilth'any of the British people. Tho Maori race-was' now, ho hopea, on .the threshold pi a . new era. Ho urged them to study, hardj to work in. the field of - enterprise ■ and' industry, and not to cease.their efforts until'they had scaled tho greatest heights ,- of '.accomplishment. To - stand' still would be'to, go , back. He wished them every success iii'thoir' labours'. (Applause.) • Mr. J. "Thornton, president of the Te Aute Association; and principal of Te Auto College, ■jfjrpve: homo tho doctrine of . work. Before .doing so ho traced tho work of 'tho Te: Auto* Association, • whose object was tho improveijieiit' of-,tho Maori raco in all . possible ways'.'" After' ten years' work the ; Association its aims to some extent at least accomplished'.'." From first ; to • last • its, efforts had" been'effectively supported 'by tho Government'.-,' He . would regard, ,tho success, of the Conference , as' the ' coping: stone' of 30 years 'of-'personal work' amongthe; Maoris, and .'ten*-year's of,'good work by -the Association. : (Appliiiise.) - ; The testimonies of officials were interpreted. as- given. • r i.'Paora ;Pahi (Hastings) gave an encouraging, acciDUiit... of: the. progress made by tho Maorisiihi his district. Tnpy had taken steps to preyent'. the, introduction of liquor, • they were" living in better houses, and the religious state, of the community had improved. In ,Mr..lhaia ;Hiitangi they had a very/energetic ..Chairman of Council. • "•/* ■ Eruo'rai' t'e : Kahu, sanitary inspector (Turakina),, .Sait}/ that' the ' sanitary.;condition' of his district.:had .greatly improved, but thoro was still room'for'advance. He thought that the Maori Councils should be/given power to •take -proceedings _ against Europeans living 'in..their "midst,ifthey did not comply with •the" ,: Act.'-He assisted the' police in the Wahganui district to put down sly grogselling; .;but'.some of tho- offenders wero vory ; cunning.' He had once: procured a camera from" the TVahganui .police, and," going| amongst ; the sly grog-sellers,' made himself liko unto theni—(laughter)—-but as lio wandered about' from : man:to. man lie snapped; their photographs. When they -wero afterwards given'in charge they were unable to deny .their .likenesses. ■ .. ; Riapb; Puhipi; chief, of Mangonui, said that only' t*ln'.®j raupo huts survived in his locality,'- ;his people - having adopted European -amenities, •• oven to frilled pillows. (Laughter.) , ; The Rev. Nikora Tautau (Tolaga Bay), in' a parabolic speech, which roused his audibnce to an/ecstacy of delight, advocated-that the power of tho Maor?-Councils should be increased ito -deal with certain difficulties. The Maori, Councils hadtho handle, but. tho Government held the blade of the axo. How: could the Councils cut down the tree P Tho Councils"had-the .plough, but the reins wero in the Government's hands'.. Could it be wondered, at if, botween them, they .made crooked!' furrows.. i Rangipo/Marumaru, registrar of the Kurahaupo Mii'ori Council, West Coast,-said -that ' he had'noticed 1 a general improvement in the condition of his people, as well as an in T crease of! industry. He was himself a dairyman, ' aiid; 'milked "sixty-five' cbws' each' day. There was verylittle drinking in the district, and the. old Maoris. were the worst Sinners'in this respect; : '' J Reriata'.-Ngata, a "brother of Mr. A. •T. Ngata, M.P.;.-.said, that for three years his S' 001. clip' was amongst the highest in the ominion. :'Hb drbw a glowing.picture of tho advances made by the Ngjatiporou tribe. ! : Dr. Ppmare; (Health. Officer, to the. Maoris) said .that from the North Cape, to Stewart Island the. conditions. of the Maoris - showed a • steady / advance. "in all respects; The progress ."niade in the last seven years was far .beyond the dreams, of any man. . , The President (Sir Robert Stout) then adjourned- the Conference.' ' MEETING OF DELEGATES. At a' meeting of delegates held last even-' ing subcommittees were set up-and an order paper ' arranged ; for- subsequent 'days. A resolution was adopted'thanking the'Gove?- . nor, tho Primb Minister, and otliers for their addresses 111 the'afternoon. A message from tho dead, .in tho shape of a telegram of tho late Mr. Seddon in reference to the last Conference,'was .road, and a resolution of regret for-the death of tho great friend of tho Maori,, and .of sympathy with Mrs. Seddon and family, was passed. TO-DAY'S PROCRAMME. i The programme for to-day is: as follows:— 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.—lndustrial: Maori farming, agricultural education,; certain aspects of the Native Land question. .'Address by' Hon. R. M'Nab, Minister for Agriculture.'< 2.30: p.m. to 5.30 p.ml—Employment: trades, i commerce, and Civil Sorvice, professions. Evening.—Entertainment in Tp ( wn Hall, by , ' the' ftby. F. A. Bennett's party from - Rotorua.-at 8. p.m., under distinguished ' ■ patronage. .