FISH SUPPLY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 281, 20 August 1908, Page 9

FISH SUPPLY.

MAORI CRIEVANCE AT ROTORUA

Som'o interest attached yesterday to tho question asked by Mr. Ngata of the Minister in charge of tho Tourist and Health Resorts Department, viz ' Whether he can mnko provision in tho Thermal Springs district to grant free licenses' to nominated heads ,of Maori families to fish for trout during; stated' periods and subject to suclr conditions as the Department, after consultation with tho .„Ro.torua Maori committee, .may impose, in order that duo recognition bo given to tho undoubted grievance of the Arawa people (a) becauso of I ho loss of their indigenous fish supply, and (b) bccause of the loss of their ''mana" over Rotoma and other lakes?

The Minister' replied that some modification of" tho termn-. and conditions under -which fishing licenses oould bo-issued ap-

pearcd to bo' necessary, and if it wero found possiblo to deal with the subject during the present_ session tho honourable gentleman's suggestion would bo considered by the G "nnient.

• itnial was made by Mr. Herries of the ruii.jur that tho Maoris living in the vicinity of the lakes wcro starving. Ho argued that certain pinked men should bo given fishing rights for food' purposes for the rest of the tribe. But it would not be ■ right that all Maoris should 'have unrestricted permission to take imported fish.' Mr. Izard made a strong plea for tho Natives' rights to fish their streams. One of tho chief foods of tho Natives at llotorua was tho kura or crayfish, which was now extinct as tho result of tho introduction of tho trout. Ho was a supporter of acclimatisation societies, but theso societies should not bo allowed to inconvenience tho rights of individuals. Fishers went to Rotorua from all parts of New Zealand and took the trout from the wa.ters. Against the remarks of Mr. Herries on this matter, Mr. Izard mentionod the statement of Rev. F. Bennett that Natives were in want, and ho read a telegram which appeared in The Dominion bearing on the question. Mr. Ngata said there was 110 starvation amoiig the Natives' around tho shores of Lake Rotorua. They were in want of their usual supply of indigenous fish. The trouble of the Arawa people was that they had lost their man.i over the waters of Rotorua under tho new fishing regulations. They felt that rights given by the Treaty of Waitangi were not being conferred upon them. There had been 110 cession of the lakes to the Crown, and the Natives cotild not understand why thoy should have to pay to fish in their own waters. They therefore asked that tho heads of tyieir parties be s.llowed to take fish for their food supplies.