THE GOSPEL OF WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13483, 9 May 1907, Page 6

THE GOSPEL OF WORK.

PREACHED TO THE MAORIS.

STAGNATION MEANS DEATH."

[BY TELEGRAPH.— COItBESPONDENT.]

Hcxtlt, Wednesday. The native clergymen present at Waahi, are not as * rule , political partisans, but several being delegates from the Ngati Ngapuhi expressed their opinions in the runanga last < night. Mr. Kaihau's speech, it was conceded, was excellent in so far as it dwelt with the genealogy of the Maori race. They dissented from the viows generally expressed, if such views meant reversion to the status quo at the- time of the treaty of Waitangi. No people could go back. To revert was to stagnate, and- stagnation meant death'. '" The' salvation of the Maori was work. ; Their ideal .should be the individualising of land titles, and, that accomplished; scientific farming. To wait for the repeal 01 Parliamentary enactments would prejudicially affect - the aboriginal race, and this was very often a cloak tor disguising lack of initiative. "Tailioa" as a watchword, was played out. By work, and only by work, if their protestations were real, could they find their salvation as a race-. The committee, seeing no finality in the discussion with the-constant ringing in of subsidiary issues, and desiring to reach a definite conclusion, suggested the formation of a. committee to consider, in camera, the reports and the decision of tho various tribes. ;Tho suggestion was adopted, 84 members being appointed. Of those 30 were members of tho Arawa" tribe, the remainder being from other tribes. At their own request, the Hon. Mahuta and Tupu Taingakawa (president "of tho assembly), and Henare Kaihau wero not nominated. Hemana Pokiha presided. Complete unanimity characterised the proceedings, all the tribes agreeing to form a. union for the purpose of demanding all rights and privileges conceded and confirmed in 1840. ■>-< • Mangakahia, rcluted' attempts made to unite the native raco in order to take action against the Native Lands Act of 1898, when was .formed a union embracing 35,000 natives. . Their petition was duly presented to Parliament, but was ignored. . His advice was to present a similar petition now. If it were ignored tho . House of Representatives would be responsible for the result. In such ease he advocated an appeal to King Edward. The union of the tribes having been consummated, some difference of opinion arose''oh the question of sending a deputation to England. It was decided to codify-tho various laws applying to. native affairs. , . . The committee had not concluded its deliberations at five- p.m., when an adjournment was made for tea, after which business was resinned, in the anticipation of an all-night sitting. A highly intelligent native, who has taken keen interest in the meeting, says the Maoris desire the restitution of thoir rights as they -'existed in' 1840. " Europeans, proceeding, under Acts hostile to us,' he adds, "have taken possession of our lands without our consent. - Our forost rights have been, confiscated, and our fishing grounds have been decimated by the introduction of foreign fish, which wo are prevented from' taking unless we pay a tax. ■'■'" • ; ' .. .; " ■ "STICK TO NEW ZEALAND."' } STATEMENT BY MR. KAHIAU. [by TELEGRAPH. c6be.espondent.] . : ; ' ■'.' :.' ' '.'"';'. Huntlt, Wednesday. Mr. . Kaihau stated to-day that the ■ tribes outside the Waikato have formed an erroneous idea- of tho object, of tho meeting. "They think the sole object," he said, " is to • ignore the Government by sending a deputation to. England, and all of us have endeavoured to disabuse their minds' of such an impression. * Both Mr. Mahuta and 1 were most careful and explicit in placing .before the meeting the objects for which it was called. The subject* for discussion excluded nil reference to tionising our King, and comprised—(l) That the .' people should gather at. Waahi to consider tho '.legislation, that . affects - the,, welfare 0/ ihd. Maori people 'hying* in the two islands; (2) the provisions of the Treaty of Waitangi as formulated' conjointly by rangatira's repre- ! sentative of the aboriginal people, and Captain Hobson as representing Queen Victoria; (0) the consideration'and discussion of legis- ; lation passed by the British Parliament, in 1 so, far as it affected the native race (4);tho ; legislative enactments of New Zealand parliaments, as from 1840; (5) the maintenance of our ancestral rights and privileges; ■ (6) the decimation of the Maori race, how accomplished, how to bo prevented." . Mr. Kaihau was astonished at the attendance, .moro. people having assembled than at any previous meeting of a.similar nature, thus proving the . existence, of some foundation for tho grievances complained of. "My constant exhortation to the assembly,"' he says, "has been 'Stick to New;-; Zealand and our friends, and lot us not take our grievances abroad.' Tho Treaty of Waitangi is as binding on the King as on tho late Queen—then, why- look to England for rights which are already ours? It wo are unanimous, let us fiend- a petition to the Government of New Zealand, and it is highly probable that our requests will he granted. Through my efforts the idea of a petition to the King has been finally abandoned, ail having unanimously agreed to approach tho New Zealand Government. The Ngati* maniapoto was the first to express a desire for - unity. >, Ngatiraukawa ; and ::Ngafcituwharetoa camo next. The assembly is in earnest, and - good % will, result from their deliberations. Other matters of great ' importance will' be discussed before the meeting terminates. My fellow members of Parliament -have', expressed their individual opinions in reports, and unless remedial measures are promulgated : and -: our appeals listened to, I for one aim prepared to abandon my seat. . I opine that Messrs. ; Ngata, Hone Hoke, and Parata will do the same. I also wish to impress on all the tribes, that this assistance, of their particular representatives in Parliament is of imperative' necessity. "'i All of them are Government supporters, and in my opinion the Government will help the natives by ' redressing - their grievances." ,-».. ■ . • ,