RUA ON TOUR.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 140, 15 June 1908, Page 8

RUA ON TOUR.

OBJECT OP HIS MARCH TO WELLINGTON. TO ASSIST MAORI SETTLEMENT. , [press association.] . ; NAPIER, June 15. Rua arrived here on Saturday on his way to Wellington to interview the Hon. Mr Carroll on native questions.- . , "I am going," said Rua in an inter- j view, "partly to try to draw the j European and the Maori together, and ' also to answer certain accusations made against me. I want the Government to help us to develop the mining prospects of the Urewera country in such a way as shall be fair to the natives who own the land and. to the people who work the mines. I desire that this wealth shall not be idle and unprofitable, and I wish to get miners' rights for Maoris who own land where minerals are. Then I want the Government to help us to improve our land, so that we may work it for ourselves, and advance money for that purpose, which will be repaid. I want the Government to make roads for Maoris as they do for Europeans. The Maoris are willing to bear the burden of such works, just as Europeans do. T want to get the right to fish in our rivers without the necessity of buying a license." / Rua and his party will proceed by easy stages to Wellington.