"A CRUEL SHAME."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 899, 19 August 1910, Page 5

"A CRUEL SHAME."

THE FUTURE OF THE-MAORI. -~ * (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, August 18. - The difficulties that local bodies labour under owing to having large areas of Native, lands'in vheir districts came, in for considerable discussion at .this afternoon's conference of representatives' of Auckland • County Councils. . The remits in each "case 'ivere from-the Otaniatea county. .. '''■■■•.- Mr. Coates moved'. "That the-Govern-ment be requested to road all' Native lands and legislate in the direction' of acquiring' aud laying off of the main'access roads through Native blocks.of land prior to'granting titles" ■• Ho pointed out that in some eases titles were grant-, ed, buf" tho 'settlorsi could hot get proper' access" to their properties owing to Native lauds surrounding them, and the' fact that the. Nativo. lands are ' not roaded. p' • " . ■•';,'.■ ■The motion Was carried. . > Mr. Coates further moved: '/That the Government be urged to "more vigorously expedite the opening up and individualising of all Native'lands; also that.'Native lands 1 as apportioned be subjected to bounty rating within the meaning 'of. tho. ratine area." He said all who,had Native lands in their districts'knew what tho position was. Mr. Harding:. Your Native-lands aro subject to rating,under-the Rating Act, but your trouble is'that you have to go to tho Nativo Minister. . -. - , Mr. Coates went on to say that the Natives in his district were; impoverishing themselves by selling their stock and: spending the proceeds iu a few weeks in towns. What was' needed was tho individualisation of Native' lands and - the placing. of tho same' obligations, on the Natives' as Europeans. He thought :it was a cruel.shame the manner.in which. Natives were being treated. '. ' ' ' - Mr. Gow moved an.amendment that it bk. urged on the Government. that all Native lands.should be subject to.rates, and that in cases where the .titles are. not ascertained the Government' should pay the rates, providing for repayment by the owner on an equitable basis. Mr. Davidson agreed'..with Mr. Gow.' We were, ho said> treating tho Maoris as children, inasmuch as we gave-them no responsibilities. The future of:tho Maori' was uttor extinction or, absorption,, in the population, and in his opinion' it would not be long before they were wiped out if ■ they were ;kept as at present. Tho amendment was carried. '•''. Mr. Clay moved a\further amendment . to (he-effect that in the opinion of. the conference the best solution of tho question was to place, the Maori on equal terms with Europeans as regards rates - and taxes, and all other obligations of' ownership. This, however, was lost, and Mr, Gow's motion was carried. ■ V .