LORD GLASGOW INTERVIEWED BY A NUMBER OF MAORI CHIEFS.

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

LORD GLASGOW INTERVIEWED BY A NUMBER OF MAORI CHIEFS.

JUNE 5, 1893. A number of Maori Chiefs waited upon His Excellency at Government House today, for the object of putting before him a Bill with a Petition thereto attached, Major Kemp acting as speaker, on behalf of the Maoris, said—(Salutations,) —We appear before you, not as our ancestors would have, but with the knowledge of Europeans. I will merely deal with the Treaty of Waitangi which was signed by our ancestors, and Clause 71 of the Constitution Act 1852, in the first Elace, certain privileges which were estowed upon the Maoris by Her Majesty the Queen, have been overlooked and neglected by the Europeans, and therefore, I am comselled to say that it Was the duty of a Representative of Her Majesty the Qneen to say: Here are the pivileges given the Maori people by Her Majesty, did they show us such privileges ? No. We were left in ignorance. A Government was formed, they made Native Land Court lawß which was in a small scale against the Maoris, later Governments were appointed, and they continually altered these laws which now have become a burden upon

us. For this reason, we held large meetings represented by both Islands', a Bill was drawn up ana passed, that is the Bill with the Petition attached lying before you for perusal, it is our wish that you should use your influence, and endeavor to us such privileges which we have so long been deprived off, we also desire you to mention this, in your speech to the House, we have also interviewed the Hon. Mr Cadman to this effect.

H. Tomoana also spoke and said—We. who are present, are descendants'of those Chiefs who signed the Act of 1835 and the Treaty of Waitangi of 1840 and also the Treaty of Kohimarama, which were under the Great Constitution Act of 1852. We have looked into the Treaties and the Acts and we find that the present legislation is not in strict accordance to them, but that the Government is deviating from them. Duriog the meeting held at Waitangi (1891), it was decid d to hold a mil representative meeting, and two Islands were divided into eight electoral districts, each district were to be represented by 3 2 members. During the last meeti « we discussed this Bill, which we now place before you ; we wish you to use your influence on our behalf.

Lord Glasgow in replying, expressed great pleasure in meeting such influential Chiefs, and also said that he would, along with bis Ministers, give the matter careful consideration, and in due tin e return an answer.