THE NATIVE LAND QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9489, 19 April 1894, Page 6

THE NATIVE LAND QUESTION.

' [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] \ 4 fifr '' ' Otorohanga, Wednesday. At a meeting of the natives, held hero last" week.? Major Ham delivered ,an address. Both'Mr! Ed wards and; Mr. J. Ormsby/ halfcastes; of great influence with the natives, spoke on the subject of the land. ,j The former.: stated that" they objected to the leasing clauses of the' Act, which 'meant that they had to put their lands 1 into the hands of a Land Board, as by doing they would lose all control of it for ever after, the T real owners \ having no say in the matter. j Mr. iCadmani he said, had promised that '■ they should lease to whom theyV chose. The Maoris wanted to have the land settled as much as ever the : Government did.; They did not want to act through a Board,' 1 but like Europeans to do as they liked' with their/' own, and were willing to carry the same burdens as the Europeans. They wanted to dispose of their lands to the best advantage. Mr. Ormsby said, they were told if they let the railway through the King country it would senhance i the : value of i their lands, but years ago ; they were/offered £1 an acre for half a million acres, when they scould, not sell, and now when ■ the : ; line Is made the 1 Government would! give ; them no more ; than ; 6s f as thehighesfc 'j price, and they must sell to the Government or not at all. They had no desire'to" make a stand like:Tawhiao,- but demanded \ their rights as - British^subjects.'; Seven ' vears / had', elapsed ; since % the .Land' Courts started, -and'- they had • hob/got their titles yet. ; In thanking Major Harris for his attendance, Mr. Edwards said the natives in the Rohepotae were takiug a broad 'grasp of the % laud ; settlement ? question. All they wanted"; was a" fair valuation •; of their«land, and they were even then content to deal with the Government! »lone in their sale,