THE MAORIS AS FARMERS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 71, 25 March 1907, Page 5

THE MAORIS AS FARMERS.

REMARKS BY THE CHIEF

JUSTICE

WANGANUI, March 25

At the Native Land Commission on Saturday, attention was directed to the following blocks: Mareae Kowhai (54,000 acres), Ranana (3,100 acres), and Ngarakau Whakarara ..(49,905 acres).. The witnesses who gave ' evidence •said.that there seemed to be no hope of the natives becoming farmers. They appeared to lack energy, and had no desire to work.

Mr Ngata remarked: "The natives here seem to have lost their self-res-pect."

Sir Robert Stout said: " The natives here are the first. I have met who do not think that it is their duty to preserve their race. The only way they can do that is by training their young people to be industrious. The race that is not trained in industry is dead; it will be swept off the face of the earth." Sir Robert Stout added that tha Government should provide agriCultural education for the Maoris.

Most of the witnesses lamented the delay in dealing with the land, occasioned by the absence of the Native Land Court. The Chief Justice remarked that this haa been a blessing to the natives. If the Court had sat the Maoris' lands would have been sold and the money spent in drink long ago. '