THE MAORI REPRESENTATION.
The elections for representatives for the .four Maori electorates into which the colony is divided took place on Saturday, but it will bo several days before the result is known. Only a very languid interest is taken on the subject, as the Maoris generally contrive to divide their forces, so that two members vote on one side and two on the other. The Government have of late had the best of it. Maoris are generally in a state of muddle in respect to their lands, and as the Government lmvepracticallydespoticcontroloverthe working of the Native Land Acts, they are very much in the hands of Ministers. During last session clauses in different Bills seriously curtailed.the rights and privileges which the Maoris .• have hitherto enjoyed. One would have thought that in respect, to such infringements the Maori members would have made common cause. They did nothing of the f kin I ; Even on such ; clauses;' as ; these,' the' Maori members \ stumbled into the Ministerial lobby, as
if they did hot know what they were doing. We must except from any condemnatory remarks Mr. Hone Heke, the member for the Northern Maori district, who is thoroughly acquainted with the laws affecting the natives, and may always be depended upon to vindicate native rights, as far as be is able. But on the whole, Maori representation I is an experiment which has failed.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10320, 21 December 1896, Page 4
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232THE MAORI REPRESENTATION. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10320, 21 December 1896, Page 4
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