MAORIS AND THEIR LANDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15331, 14 June 1910, Page 9

MAORIS AND THEIR LANDS.

HUNTLY CONFERENCE. ■ SUCCESSFUL RESULTS OF MEETING AT WAIKATO. THE LAST OF NEGATION. [From- Gun CoKinssroxnuNT.] WELLINGTON, June 13. The meeting of Waikato Natives near Kuntly last week will have most important results upon the progress of that section of the Native race. They have completely abandoned their old antagonism to the legislation of the present day, and as a practical indication of this they applied to have tho Waikato brought under tho Maori Councils Act, which will give local selfgovernment with improved sanitation and regulation of villago life. "This is a distinct advance," remarked the Hon James Carroll (.Native Minister), who returned to Wellington on Saturday from the meeting. " Mahuta, on behalf of his people, stated that they wished to oomo under the law and do all they can. to further tho objects of tho Government's legislation. Ho was speaking thus on behalf of tho King Natives, who havo previously stood aloof. Now they are all ono and arc working together. This is tho passing away of tho old attitude of negation. I proclaimed tho district under the Maori Councils Act right away." "Another important feature of the gathering concerned the land," continued the Minister. "Treating the meeting as one of assembled owners under tho Native Land Act, I secured tho confirmation of the 'right to dispose of 180.000 acres of Nativo land, which will bo opened right away for settlement. A large number of the Maoris intend to pursue farming as an occupation, but ab least one-third of this area will bo available for European settlement. This is the first instalment of 600,000 acres which have been scheduled to be disposed of in various wavs. Mv own opinion is that tho bulk of it will be brought into productivity by the Maoris." How long will tho process of subdivision take? tho Minister was asked. "Surveying has to be done, and a good deal of necessary routine," was the roplv. " You know we do not live in the days of Aladdin's lamp, when you rubbed a ring and it was done. The Waimarino block of half a million acres was bought from tho Natives by the Crown twenty years ago, and I don't believe it is all settled yet."

The Native Minister was not prepared to corroborate the interesting and dramatic account of Mr Henare Kaihau's speech at the big gathering. "I certainly listened carefully to Mr Kaihau's statements," remarked Mr Carroll. "Perhaps it was my obtuseness, but I did not catch anything like the words he is reported to have used. Tho Maoris, he said, want the assistance of the Government to acquire certain old tribal sites associated with the lives and deeds of their great men. These they would like to acquire either by exchange or by straight out sale of lands, the purchaso money of which would bo used to buy their favourite spots associated with years gone by. Where, t'hov are farming they want the same privilege as tho European to borrow money from tho State. This _is .possibly the reference to money which lias been construed into tho demand for gold." [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Juno 13. Tho Native conference at Waahi was resumed to-day, when Mr Henare Kaihau, M.P., addressed those present. The partition of their lands, said Mr Kailiau, had been agreed upon among themselves, and confirmed as between Mahuta and the Native Minister (the Hon James Carroll). Of the 600,000 acres under consideration, it had been decided to sell 150,000 acres, to have a similar amount to reserve for their own occupation, and to sell for tho purpose known as the raana of Mahuta tho remainder, some 300,000 acres. The time for a " taihoa" policy was past. Land settlement could no longer be stavod off. He strongly advised the Natives to provo their bona fides by occupying the portions set for farms, and to set to work to cultivate them in a scientific and up-to-date manner. With regard to tho portion to bo leased, their hands were tied until tho Government gave them information as to tho value at which the land had been assessed. The Natives wero as much alive to the current value of land as woro the pakehas, and the difference of a shilling or two on nearly 400,000 acres meant a considerable sum. The valuation might or might not be satisfactory to tho Nativo owners. If it were, well and good, but if not the land should bo thrown open for public selection or lot or sold to the highest bidder. Provision had now been made for survey, reading, etc. The completion would be considerably accelerated if the management wero vested in the hands of the local committee, leaving to> tho land boards only the legalisation of the various transactions. Leaving these matters to the land boards simply meant hanging them up for another ten years and perpetuating that policy of " taihoa " with which both Natives and Europeans had been nauseated ever since deals in Native lands had been commenced. It was well known to them all that tho block, some 1300 acres in extent, now known as the Hopuhopu Mission Station, was one of great historic and tribal interest. That land should bo handed over to the Natives at once. The speaker strongly urged the Natives to forge the la&t link in the chain of native councils by appointing ono for the Waikato district. He concluded by exhorting his audionco to decide quickly on the various matters placed before them, and adjured them for the sake of their race to bo temperate, obedient and loyal.