Native Chiefs before the Native Minister.

Huia Tangata Kotahi, Issue 15, 22 July 1893, Page 7

Native Chiefs before the Native Minister.

WELLINGTON, JUNE 3, 1893.

A number of Maori Chiefs interviewed the Native Minister at Wellington on the 3rd day of June, 1893. Major Kemp first speaking, on behalf of the Natives, said:—Mr Cadman (Salutations) —I, on behalf of my people, have to express at the untimely death <>f Premier, the Hon. Mr who are now before you, have assembled, not aB our ancestors did, but for the purpose of laying before you a Bill, which was passed by a large ti.eeting of Maori Chiefs from all parts of New Zealand held at Waipatu on the 11th day of April, 1893, and again, I have to ask you, as Native Minister, to i ssist in obtaiivng the privilege of your lellow-Ministers and Members in hearing and giving this, our Bill, which we have laid before you a full and favorable consideration, and that you should endeavor to form laws, not only for the benefit of Europeans, but for the Maori race as well. It is your duty to do so, as previous Ministers formed laws over us, which we have sorely felt, such as the Native Lands Cocrt. which was supposed to have been formed for the benefit of our people, but instead of being a benefit to them, it has been the means of depriving them of their rights, therefore, we ask you to reform such laws which are now pressing upon us and depriving us of our lands, and also to consider the Bill and Petition which we hav* placed before you. In our meeting at Waipatu all the Chiefs expressed their opinion in upholding the Treaty of H'uitanjri and Clause 71, Constitution Act 131)2.

\V\ P. Kakakura said he was pleased to appear before the Hon. Native Minister as one of the Maori representatives for both North and South Islands. He further said, that when the Hon. Minister attended a rneeting of Maories in the Bay of Islands, on the 14th day of April, 1892, it web then arranged t■> unite Maoris of both Islands as one, and apply for jtist'oe. After this, a meeting again was held at Waipatu in June of the same year, and again a resolution

to unite Maoris of both Islands as one was passed. It was unanimously agreed that certain proposals made in favor of the Maori Race by Her Majesty the Queen in the Treaty of Waitangi, has been unnoticed and neglected by the Europeans. I also uphold Major Kemp's statement re Native Land Courts. Undoubtedly the Land Courts have done us, the Maoris, more harm than good, and is also the means of blotting out our rightful claim to the Treaty of Waitangi, and further, I must ask you the reason why you, the Europeans, have solely taken full control and power over our lands, when we, the Maoris, or rather, the rightful race to this colony, have been abandoned. Are the Europeans doing the same in other parts of the world. You may say that the reason we Europeans are taking the right, control, and full power over you and your lands is because we, the Europeans, took you. the Maoris, by conquest, but thai would be a misapprehension on your part. We were not taken by conquest, and if so, why were not Major Kemp and Captain Henare Tomoana, who are here before you as loyal subjects, left to share our wants which have been deprived off us by the Europeans. We deem it vour duty as Native Minister, to see to the welfare of the Native Race. We admit that the Maori population is much smaller than the European, and as yet have not the same knowledge, therefore, we ask you, as Native Minister, to place such conveniences before us that we may reap some benefit, if not more than our brother Europeans. I, on behalf of my people, ask you, with the aid of your fellow-Ministers, to give this, our Bill and Petition thereto attached, your favorable consideration. Before concluding, 1 must ask you to give me your opinion whether favorable or otherwise on the Bill now before you. Henare Tomoana: I am thankful to you for allowing us to. interview you to-day. You have already learnt from us the full facts of our meeting last year. Vou then promised to assist us. J also interviwed Mr Ballance to that effect he also promised to assist us. At our meeting last year a resolution was passed to elect members by votes for the forthcoming year, which was promptly carried out accordingly, there we had members from both Islands. The Bill now before you was discussed for two or three weeks and passed, and was referred to Parlimen this session, and if passed by the House, I will not be backward in saying that it will bring prosperity to the Maori's as well as the Europeans. I will ask you as Native Minister to bring this matter before the House and have the same passed. We will wait your reply.

Hon. Mr Cadman in reply said :—1 am pleased to meet you to-day, and will express my opinion on the Bill now lying before me. There is no reason why you should refer back to the Treaty of vVaitangi.Had the Europeans not settled upon New Zealand you would have reaped no benefit whatever from your lands, it was through them ('the Europeans) you are receiving such high prices for your lands. I think the higher price you possibly could obtain the better for yourselves. What benefit have you come to under the Treaty ? You were bo'ind under the Treaty to sell to no other but the Crown, that was the

the reason why you received such a small price f:;r your land. I think it is useless for you to uphold the whole of the Treaty, but would be much better if you were to uphold such parts of it as you think you can derive any benelit from. You have been treated fairly by the Europeans under the Treaty. Had the French taken possession of N.Z. you would nt have been so fairly dealt with as you have been by us, but you prebably would have all been killed. The Native Land Court was a thing proposed by yourselves. W. P. Kakakura : We are not upholding the Treaty for the purpose of selling our property, but merely upholding a certain advice given us by Her Majesty the Queen, and affixed to the Treaty of Waitangi, but you, the Europeans, have unnoticed and neglected such advice. In reference to the Native Land Court, I admit we did propose it, but why did you deprive us the right of forming laws for Native Land Courts. We therefore say we have been treated unfairly, and what you have said, is, I think, merely nonsense.

Hon.MrCadman : You have prepared your Bill and petition under the Treaty of \Y aitangi, what is the Treaty, nothing, you say the Europeans have dealt unfairly with you, you must consider that you brought up your own children, what happened, some of them were not honest, the result was they dealt dishonestly, had the French taken possession of N.Z. the Maoris would have all been killed. Major Kemp then asked the Hon. Mr Cad man how many Islands have the French in their possession that they have killed the inhabitants? The Hon. Mr Cadman made no reply.