MIDDLE ISLAND NATIVE LAND CLAIMS.

Evening Star, Issue 6802, 6 January 1886, Page 1

MIDDLE ISLAND NATIVE LAND CLAIMS.

In the course of last session the Hon. Mr Taiaroa moved in the Legislative Council a resolution to the effect that the time had arrived at which the Government should submit to Parliament " some measure for giving effect "to the recommendations of the "reports of the Commissioners ap- " pointed to inquire into the Middle " Island Native land purchases." The Commission referred to was appointed, we think, by the Grey Government in 1878, on the recommendation of the Native Affairs Committee ; but a somewhat unfortunate mistake was made in selecting as Commissioners two gentlemen of notorious Philo-Maori sentiments, who, after a great deal of shilly-shallying and costly delay, submitted an interim report of such a character that, whilst it was impossible for the Government to give it effect, it tended to encourage the Natives in absolutely preposterous claims. Mr Taiaroa complained that nothing had been done, although the report was submitted to the Governor in 1881. He had been acquainted, he said, with the matter, and interested in it ever since he was quite a child, and the lands referred to had belonged to his people, his parents, and his ancestors; and although they hadbeenhanded over to the Government it was only on the understanding that the promises mode at that time were to be fulfilled. "The Maori chiefs " who were interested in that cession " considered that when they ; were " dealing with the Government officers " appointed to carry out that transaction they would be dealing with " them in a fair, reasonable, and just " way. I may point out to the "Council that one of the Commis- " sioners employed in that purchase—- " the Hon. Mr Mantell—is at present "in the Council. He with his own "lips gave that promise, to the " Natives at the time that the purchase "was being made, and I feel"sorry "that he has not been able to fulfil " those promises which he then made, "for I feel sure that if he had not "made such promises those Natives j " would never have given up their "land in the manner they did." He further stated that he was not " in any way prejudiced or oppressed" by the knowledge that these lands had come into the hands of Europeans; but he begged that the Council would see that the promises referred to should be fulfilled. Mr Mantell, in speaking to the resolution, conceded that Mr Taiaroa was thoroughly justified by facts. That the Natives of the Middle Island have suffered wrong at the hands of the Imperial Government, he thought there could be no shadow of a doubt, but that the introduction of a measure by the Government into our Legislature would be likely to remedy the evil was more than questionable. "On "the whole, in round numbers, "these Natives ceded to the Crown " about thirty millions of acres,: for "which they received a very trifling " money recompense and certain assu- " ranees, to which effect had not " been given. Those assurances were "given on behalf of the Imperial " Government; and their fulfilment, if " they are ever to be performed in this "world, must originate at any rate " with the Imperial Government, for "we have no power." The claim, if recognised at all, he went on to say, was one of such extent that "no "Ministry could possibly insist on " pressing it on the Assembly and hope "to retain office. They could not "possibly do it, and therefore the "contemplation of any such plan " would be Quixotic in the extreme." The motion was eventually, after some discussion, withdrawn on the suggestion of the Colonial Secretary, who* promised that the subject should receive consideration during the recess, with a view to some definite proposal next session. In regard to the report of the Commission, we may explain generally that, it admitted the justice of claims to an absolutely enormous amount, but recognised that "full amends" for failure or neglect in the past could not he made by assessing damages. « Restitu-: " tion can, however, bo made, and a. " trust accepted, but almost ignored in " the past, maynowbeacknowledgedancl < : more faithfully administered.in the "future." The Commissioners pro, posed, therefore, that an account he opened wfth the tribes interested; that on the one side should be entered the eleventh part of the proceeds of all land sold (in Otago and Canterbury) by the Government; on the other side, the present value of all Maori reserves and the total expenditure for the benefit of the Natives interested in the lands; the balance to be regarded as a funded debt, a fair interest on which should be allowed and applied for the general purpose of ameliorating the condition of the Natives, in such manner as from time to time might be found expedient and practicable. "In many ways," they conclude, "the " terms of the contract have been "violated. To restore is impossible. " A compromise of the claim for com- " pensation is the only possible way of "meeting the case; and we submit " that the mode suggested by •us "is just and reasonable." Succe&. sive Native Ministers, it would ap pear from "Hansard" and official documents* have had little in the conduct or the report.of the Commissioners, The claimants,* for instance, were represented by coui&Ss whilst the Crown was unrepresented.

Whatever evidence was required on behalf of the Natives was procured at once at the expense of the Commission, whilst nothing was heard on the other side. Mr Bryck, speaking on the subject in 1879, said that this Commission had "assumed a magnitude "at which he was perfectly horrified," and that if it were to go on it would be "absolutely a one-sided affair ! which, in'.eed, appeared to be the general opinion when the Keport, not then intended to be the final one, was forthcoming in 1881. The Government were so impressed with the preposterous character of such of the recommendations as assumed to be practical that they terminated the labors of the Commissioners by the effectual process of stopping the supplies, and were very generally supported in this course by the House ot Representatives and the public opinion of the country.