OUR MAORI FELLOW SUBJECTS.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2371, 11 December 1879, Page 2

OUR MAORI FELLOW SUBJECTS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— I have in a former letter stated that the people of this colony declare that the Maori race are entitled to bo admitted m ■übjoots of the Grown to all the rights and privileges of British law, and consequently are also entitled to pay their quota of revenue to the State. The relation in which tho native race now stands to the European is not equal, nor by right and justice is it fair to either party. On the other hand we find the Oabinot ■addled with an enormous tax for the purposes of native management and do* fence ; on the other hand there is a community, consisting of 60,000 persons postossed of ample means to contribute to the support of the Stato, owning, as they do, the pick of tho North Island landed estate. Sir, the people con* tond that a race of intelligent men like the Maoris should be placed on their proper footing as subjects of Groat Britain, that they should roceivo the same protection, and be governed by the same laws as vro aro; that their lands should bo surveyed, subdivided, and apportioned to each native according to his individual sharo therein ; that each provincial distriob should bo divided into counties, that tho laws and law officers required far tho proper administration of justice should be adjusted to suit tho condition and intelligence of the native race; that, if possible, judges, magistrates, and justices should be chosen from amongst them, and that tho native should bo allowed to soil, lease, or otherwise trade wfth his land in the ■amo way as the European. Once place the Maoris on the samo footing us our* selves, and the native troubles which have so long beset us will disappear before the intorosts developed by the ohanpei. Tho native will then have something definito to labor for, and when he votes at elections ho will have the knowledge of the fact that his privilege is not oast away, that the mombnr returned to the House is not a mere nonentity, an individual simply to! or "tod, booause of his vote, or of his land, or his influence with tho peoplo over whom ho is chief; that in the Legislative Council the opinions of such men as Mr Taiaroa would have their full weight, and bo roooivod accordingly. What an absurdity, Mr Editor, to hoar some of the wise and learned gentleman of tho Upper Homo talking on tho "qualification of Eleotors Bill," sotting forth their opinions as to the suffrago of tho nativos and the increase of their representation, when all tho whilo tho Maori has no right whatever to representation of any kind, except through their own appointed consul, because they aro not British subjoots under the law, but aliens, and therefore only ontitlod to tho representation which I have indioatod above. Maori representation, Sir, is a farce, and tho Administration of native affairs is a downright robbery of tho peoplo of this colony. lam happy, Sir, to observe that Dr Grace, M.L.0., in a r«cent speech on tho abovo bill makos tho following statement among other sensible remarks, " That which is really of importance is, that tho Maori should have oxHotly the same stake, and tho same character of stake in the country that the European holds. To accomplish this tho Qualification of Electors Bill will bo of no avail. Equal rights will produce equal interests ; equal taxation will produce equal redistribution. Tho European people can no longer see by what right the Administration can levy taxes upon them for tho purposo of keeping a costly native department, and for a publio works expenditure, from whonoe there is no return. Yea, Sir, the time has arrived whon our follow subjects— tho Maoris — shall enjoy British freedom in ratio to th» taxes they pay. — Yours, British Tribune.