THE NEW MAORI COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 105, 13 May 1901, Page 3

THE NEW MAORI COUNCIL.

A QUESTION OF FINANCES.

The mombci's of tho newly-elected Native Council for tho Taakitcnui district met for tho despatch of business at Te Poho-o-ltawiri, Haiti, on Saturday. The members wore apparently impressed with the importance of their position, and after they settled to business, were as decorous as a European assembly. Mr Brooking occupied the chair preliminarily till a permanent chairman was appointed. Mr Hoani lluru wanted the meeting adjourned, so as to have a fuller attendance, but Mr Hnpi Hinaki and others objected, and tho election of chairman was proceeded with, and Mr Te Ivani Pere was unanimously appointed. The Chairman duly thanked the Counoil, and asked Mr Apirana Ngat-a, who was present, to explain the Act, under which they were working. Mr Ngata explained that having chosen their chairman, tho Council was now in operation. They should first elect a delegate to go to Botorua, where a conference of delegates would be held, and some uniform scheme of working the Act might be evolved. The Council’s priueipla trouble would be money, and it is difficult to see where it would come from. They would require a clerk and other paraphernalia. and that of course meant money. They must try and keep their expenses as low as possible so as not to become a burden to the people, and he would suggest the Council should moke their services one of love. They might appeal to the general body of the people for financial assistance, and failing that there were two apparent sources of revenue, namely, a tax on houses and property, and . fines. He hoped the revenue from the latter source would be made small by the people themselves. The Council would have power to make by-laws, and upon the proper framing of these depended the good government and the vvcli-beiug of the Natives. They would therefore need to exercise great care in this respect. The meeting then thanked Mr Ngata for his address and adjourned till to-day. One novel method of taxation proposed by a member of the Council was the taxing of dogs uuder six months of age. This was vetoed as being opposed to law. Another method suggested was the taxing of babies. This met with considerable favor from the older members of the Council, but the young ones thought it impracticable. Another suggestion was to tax the number of rooms in a house, but it was thought this would encourage living in tents.