EAST COAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6097, 2 June 1881, Page 6

EAST COAST.

».- MR. TOMOANA, M.H.R-, AT TJAVTA. [fkom our owx conr.EsrosDEXT.] May 27th, ISSI. On" Wednesday evening the hon. member for the Eastern Maori Electoral District addressed his constituents, who are now assembled iu considerable force . at Uawa, Tolago Bay, attending the session of the Native Laud Court. This gentleman is perhaps the most intelligent of all the Maori members. His person is commanding, and pleasing, and his age about 30 or 35. He lias been two years in the House of Representatives, when he was chosen out of a list of four aspirants to the honour. He is not so sanguine and enthusiastic as he was before he entered parliamentary life. He feels that he is but a unit amongst all the members, and that his noble, patriotic aspirations return barren into his own bosom. Mr. Tomoana has not been an obstructive during his. past brief parliamentary career, but fell in readily with any measures which he was convinced were for the general good. His advocacy of the dog tax is an instance of tliis enlightenment, for that measure is especially obnoxious to the Maori race iu general. According to his calculation, the Maori representatives in the Honse ought to be doubled iu number. The special members given to Maoris alone is certainly a step in true representation- in the right direction. It is of the nature of "Hare's system." To effect tiiis generally throughout the whole colony, for both races and for all classes, the present AttorneyGeneral brought in a Bill two years ago, when he was a private member of the Lower House. Doubtless that system, if once the united prejudices of the people and its own innate difficulties could be overcome, would have the effect of introducing men of more sterling merits, and attainments into public life than those who—many of them—now only waste the time of the session with their lengthy, wearisome harangues. Is there any hope that the honourable and learned gentleman will this session bring in this important measure ? I append a brief report of Mr. Tomoana's address, which was very Well received, and the usual complimentary addresses both preceded and followed it. Besides this public utterance, the member was for several days going about amongst the people, and in the most courteous manner afforded information to his own constituents, as well as the Europeans interested in Maori questions through their own connection with the Maori people. Tiie honourable member left yesterday, en route for Wellington, to attend Parliament. His speech, delivered on the village green, was as follows :— He quite agreed with the expression of opinion which had fallen from some of those who had welcomed him,-thathe could do the native people little real good in the House. When, however, seeking election at the ] hands of the electors, he sincerely thought i that he could have done much good, and his individual acts had all tended in that direction. In referring to the native peti- ' tions which had been presenter! to the House during the time he had been their member, he said that the Native Affairs Committee had done earnest work in the matter, the native members being especially watchful. They had reported to the House the necessity of a Royal Commission being appointed to investigate grievances, particularly those affecting the East Coast. He was of opinion that the natives were the proper persons to investigate—better than the Native Land Courts; the Government had no wish to take power in this direction out of the bands of the Europeans. He and the other native members had done all that they could in bringing forward or supporting measures of a beneficial nature for the natives. He was pleased to find that the natives in this district had not opposed the taking of the census. Increased representation or redistribution of seats would be based on population, and on that basis the East Coast district would obtain an additional member for natives as well as for Europeans. Personally, he was opposed to Native Land Courts, and it made those to whom the land was awarded to some extent equal owners, to the injury of the rights of the chiefs, and opposed to native customs. Then, again, when the land was through the Court, troubles arose through the selling or leasing of the same, and petitions were sent to the House for stated wrongs, for which there was little, if anj, remedy. He denounced the bulk of the Native Bills introduced in the House during the past two sessions as being injurious to the people. The native members were strenuous in their opposition, and gradually gained the aid of other members, and the Bills referred to were thrown out or shelved. He had no doubt of the good faith of the Government in wishing to do good for the natives, but it was not always possible to carry out what was wished. In referring to the East Coast Settlement Bill of last session, he said that the clause referring to the Maoris gave them such power that the House could not agree to it. With respect to appointments of Maori cominittcesinnative districts, and their being recognised by the Government, the House did not approve of it, nor did he approve of the proposal that such committee should pay a yearly license fee of £10. Although he had no special objection to Mr. Recs and his work, he certainly was of opinion that all trustees should be under the supervision of a public trustee. He further thought that they should understand the questions involved by Mr. Rocs' proposals before assenting to them. He regretted that Henarc Matua, who had initiator! the committee system among them, had opposed the taking of the census in his district. Referring to the subject of taxation, he said that the colonial debt made the matter a necessity. As regarded the dog tax, he had voted for it. It would be impossible to cut out particular districts, the tax being for the whole of the colony. For his own part, although owning many dogs, he had not yet been asked for the tax. Iu reply to questions, he said that he was prepared to support the following measures : legal recognition of Native Committees, Land Courts to be presided over by natives, the introduction of the names of rightful owners who had been left out of lands brought before the Native Lands Court.

The Native Land Court, now presided over by Messrs. Heale and Tapsell, as judge and assessor respectively, is still busily at work. A detailed report of the several claims under its notice is, for this letter, deferred. It is to be regretted that business is frequently retarded by the absence of claimants, many of whom have not yet arrived. The weather has hitherto been of the most agreeable nature.