Ngatiporou Claimants Present Petition To Parliament

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22728, 28 August 1948, Page 4

Ngatiporou Claimants Present Petition To Parliament

COROMANDEL LANDS

A petition presented (o Parliament by Mr. 11. T. (Arnold) Ready, Ruatoria. on behalf of certain members of the Ngatiporou tribe, recalls the gold-rush days of the late ISfiO’s when miners’ rights could he bought for IT per annum and kauri trees, irrespective of size could be purchased for felling for 25s each. The petition, which concerns a claim for monetary compensation for losses incurred through a cession of rights to the Crown by Ngatiporou owners in a large area on the Coromandel Peninsula, is to be heard by the Board of Maori Affairs in Wellington on September 8.

A meeting of all the Maoris affected by the petition is to be held at Hiruharama tomorrow evening, to discuss various aspects of the representations to be submitted. ■The petitioners are the owners of the Harataunga block in the Coromandel district which comprises about 8000 acres and includes Kennedy’s Bay, a well-known camping site above Thames. Inquiry Into Grants to Crown In 1833 the owners of the land granted extensive rights to the then Government, and an inquiry into the circumstances of the transactions was authorised in 19.35. The then Chief Judge of the Maori Land Court was called upon to report oi'. certain petitions which really asked for an inquiry into the whole proceedings with regard to deeds of cession by the Maoris of mining rights over areas in the Hauraki and Coromandel districts, and also an inquiry into the circumstances under which certain blocks of land were purchased by the Crown. Chief Judge C- E. McCormick presented his report to the Native Minister in June, 1940.

The present petitioners are the owners of a number of tracts, of land in the Coromandel, not by virtue of ancestral right but by virtue of gifts thereof made many years ago to their forefathers by leaders of the NgatiTamatera tribe in recognition of services rendered to the donors. The title to these lands held by the Ngatiporou is not disputed. “Maoris Made Very Bad Bargains” At the inquiry conducted by the Chief Justice no oral evidence was led at any stage of the proceedings, the parties relying upon records and statutory provisions. In the course of his report the Chief Judge said that, looking back from the present time, it would appear that the Maoris made very bad bargains, adding that had. the transactions been subject to judicial review it was unlikely that they would have been approved, at all events without modification.

He said that in that respect the transactions were similar to many other earlv purchases by the Crown from the Maoris. Later he commented that he agreed with the contention of counsel for the natives that these transactions, if between subjects, would not stand if brought, for review by a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction —unless it was shown that the •natives were competently advised as to the whole facts. How far that may have been done was not ascertainable. Summing up. the Chief Judge said, inter alia: “The Crown cannot now render any complete or satisfactory account of the revenue received and expended by it, first, because the long delay has rendered it impossible to inspect many records formerly available, and secondly owing to the methods adopted for the distribution of money due to the natives. Possibly nothing better was practicable . under the circumstances, but more inspection and audit were desirable.” Claimants’ Views on Distribution The Chief Judge later discussed the quantum of any payment which might be made to the natives, in settlement of their claims, and suggested a substantial figure. Inc Ngauporuu people now claim a large proportion of any grant made in terms of his report. The petitioners are united in tneir claim lor compensation by way of an ex gratia payment oy the Government, out a small section contends that any moneys so received should be returned to the original donors of the land as an expression of goodwill and fellowsnip This section is believed to have secured the services of Mr. M. Here to present their views. The majority of the petitioners contend, on the other hand, that in view of the rigid interpretation which has ucen placed in the past on the deeds of cession, and the present unsatislaclory financial status of many of those who would benefit from any grant of moneys, and distribution should be made amongst those entitled. Tins majority has retained Mr. K. Gillanders Scott, Gisuome, as counsel to present their case to the Board of Maori Affairs.