"GIVE US SOME MONEY."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 842, 14 June 1910, Page 5

"GIVE US SOME MONEY."

.MR. KAIHAU AND THE NATIVE ' . : ' • . MINISTER, The statement.' in a telegram from Auckland on Saturday that at the' Native gathering at Waaln Mr. Kaihau,' M.P ' made,a straight request'to the Government for money in return for Native land is denied by the Hon. J. Carroll. It will be remembered that the telegram lead, as follows:— ' "Wβ have given you our land," Mr. Kiuhau said, "you have the banks, give ■■' as some money. If Mr. Carroll will agree we will soon appoint a committee i- to go to Wellington to get the gold. Now, who is causing delay? It is up to you to talk with pakeha money." In regard to the matter, Mr.. Carroll told a Dominion reporter yesterday that although ho listened carefully to Mr. Kaihau's statements he did not catch anything like the remarks Mr. Kaihau was reported to have made. It was not surprising, however, that a mistake should have occurred in connection with the reporting of the Native speeches 'at the conference owing to tlie fact that . tho reporters, seeing that/- they would ■ not understand Maori, must have had ...'to snatch a phrase hero and there from this one or that one, as was convenient. . He understood Mr. Kaihau to say that the Natives wanted the assistance of the Government to.acquire certain old tribal' sites, either by exchange or straight-out Bales of land; and where they were farmers they wished the Government to givo them tho same privilcgo as tho European to borrow money from the -State. . "It is just possible" (he added) "that tho reporter was given some sentences employed in ■ connection with a figure of speech by a listener who had not a grip of the proposals which Mr. Kaihau was outlining." Tho text of Mr. Knihau's speech, as given by the Huntly correspondent of . the Auckland "Herald," is as follows:— "I rise to ask what progress we have made. I am your bitterest opponent, you and the Government and the wholo lot of you over there. I did not come to the conference before, because the phase of tho moon was not suitable (Mr. Kaihau missed the train at Pukekohe on Thursday), but now there are better indications. We have, however, nothing but indications. Tho first thing I will mention is that the land remaining should be secured to the Natives. If you aro prepared to deal with us, do it'tuday. Let us close the transaction. Let us hear of it. Let Mr. Carroll show his kindness. The laud we have placed in the hands of the Government; let us see something tangible for it in return. Too long we have had unsubstantial projects; now let us have something substantial.'- You have our. land; you have tho banks. Give us some money. If Mr. Carroll will agree we will soon appoint ' a committee to go to Wellington to fetch the gold. \Now, then, who is causing tho dolay? Is it' us? I think jiot. It is up to you to talk with pakeha money." It .is also added that Mr. Kaihau's remarks caused roars of laughter, and his ■sentiments wero evidently relished by the gathering, if tho applause which erected them was any criterion.