MAORIS IN CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14392, 10 June 1910, Page 6

MAORIS IN CONFERENCE.

A PICTURESQUE ASSEMBLY. SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. [BT TELEGRAPH. — CORRESPONDENT.] ;' Httnilt, Thursday. ; The picturesque kainga of Waahi, which stands .close by the Waikato on the other side from Huntly, is at present the scene of an important conference between natives and representatives of ;: the Government, upon the question of throwing open for European settlement the land in the Waikato not required for the support of the natives. The serious business of the conference has • hardly , begun, for not until to-morrow will the details of the proposal be discussed; between the Native Minister and the Maoris. / : i:

For some days the natives have been gathering from all parts of the North Island, and have consumed the immense supplies of food which they lay, up against all such occasions. The settlement, always interesting, is particularly so just now. The native population of; 200 has been swelled to about 1500, and the concourse contains Maoris of all stages of evolution and civilisation. '

The gathering to-day was distinguished by the presence of the Prime Minister («ir Joseph Ward), in addition to the Native Minister (Hon. J. Carroll). The Ministerial party reached the settlement early in the afternoon, and as they approached the marae (square) they were met by a Maori brass band, which headed their further progress. A short distance further on a party welcomed the Ministers vocally arid, by gesticulation, and retired before them' to the marae. .' Here two marquees had been erected facing each other. Under one of I these the Ministers were seated, and under the other : the natives crowded, the space between being kept. clear; : _■ , .; _ ■*"

A NATIVE WELCOME. - After something in the nature of a haka had been given, Kuihana, a leading man of theiNgatimahuta tribe, and one of the most eloquent speakers on the ground, gave an adress of welcome ? emphasising his remarks by the brandishing of a piece, of whalebone; He spoke of the sorrow of the people at the death of King Edward and welcomed the Prime Minister. Then, in song, he paid subtle compliment to the Hon. Jas. Carroll, whose coming, he said, had been so eagerly anticipated that the people had dreamt of it and wakened time and again to find themselves disillusioned. " :' : . ~ :•■''. . '.'. Mahuta, in welcoming the' visitors, asked that the native councils "should be made as useful as possible. bir Joseph Ward, whose remarks were interpreted" by Mr. H. Stowel, sentence by sentence, as he proceeded," thanked the natives for their hearty greetings, and expressed his pleasure at being. present. He thanked Mahuta for his words of regret at the death of King Edward. - ~ Continuing, Sir Joseph Ward said that great changes had been made in native land laws, and ho was sure they recognised that if Maori and Crown lands were unoccupied thev could not.be allowed to remain in that condition,' but must be used. Koads, railways, and other facilities were oeing provided - for the benefit of both Maoris? and Europeans. It was far better to recognise that legislation i and machinery for the fitment of native land must be used, and it was better for it to be done in a quiet way than for pressure to have to be brought on the Maoris. ; ' • Continuing, the speaker raid that a report had been received from the Maoris on the opening up of Maori lands, and laid on the table of the House. This showed that, t here were ,000,; acres in the Waikato available for European settlement.;• Speaking as Prime Minister, and ae a friend of the Maoris, he said * that the Government, was prepared to provide money for the purchase" of native lands, and to assist : the Maoris in leasing sto others; also to;fird monev for the natives' own requirements if they desired to carry on farming operations j themselves. i He wanted the natives •to understand ! clearly 'that: the Government was prepared | I to do what was just and. right by Europeans and Maoris alike, but they would understand, that the time had gone by whjn any: unnecessary j delay : could be -tolerated' in placing land, not required by the Maoris, at the disposal of settlers?" He wanted the Maoris, when dealing , with the practical side of the question with the Hon. Jas. Carroll, to remember, this advice. In his responsible position where the Government provided money for the purchase of land., or for land leased by the natives, there was no object in unnecessary ' delay. In fact, there would be a. great loss to the Maoris.: The legislation now on the Statute , Book enabling the /whole of the Maori land of .New Zealand, which was available, to be disposed of by sale or lease was more perfect than it had ever been before. --,:■ He said to Mahuta/, and His chiefs : " Tome forward I without delay and don't lay hack. - Come forward and * help in this matter, in the interests of all." ;.Although the Government had placed 8000 people upon,/land throughout the country during the last year, it was apparent, he said, that the people .j were demanding more activity and a further supply, of land. Tfie settlement of the land was' a/live question, • and one which/must be dealt with in a. live way. wOn the question of ihe fating of native lands, Sir Joseph said he desired to say a few words. Railways, roads, bridges, telegraphs, and telephones had been pro-/ vided out of borrowed money, and were adding very much to the'value of the land, both European and Maori. -The Government would see that the natives: got a proper price for their land, either sold or leased, and it would bo recognised that 1 the time [ had arrived for the: Maoris. to pay rates/ in the same way as Europeans. : In the south of the North Island the Maoris recognised that ; rating had -got to come with the improvement in their /land, which was brought/about/by public money. When the Maoris did) this they would have the right to go -on the local \ public bodies and take part in; the management of affairs /in/ their locality. / The Maoris' had 'the same advantages' in the matter of the advanced values of the land, education "for the children, and the use of railways, roads and bridges, as the . Europeans. ' • - In the reign of George V.- things could not remain the same as )in the reign of Queen Victoria, when the illustrious chiefs of the/past were carrying out a law very largely their own. It could not ho expected that the Maoris should continue to benefit by the expenditure of large sums of money unless they fell into line with the Europeans. If they did so ; they would be stronger and better/in all i ways, and people would not be able to cast it up against/ them } that /they received con-• cessions not extended to Europeans. "/No/- ; thing unjust would be done to the Maoris, but it could not continue > to be said :by people, sometimes / for political purposes, that settlement was not going on fast enough. - " '■'■ J '"~': . ■ Sir Joseph concluded by wishing success to the conference between the and the Hon. James Carroll, who, he said, would leave a name behind him as a Native Minister. The Prime Minister's speech was listened to by the natives .with the stolidity with which Maoris listen to good tidings and bad. It evoked no-- demonstration of any kind. / .'■ ■■■ ; -"'.- ""■ ' '■'■■ l '■"/.■' l Mahuta, who followed, promised the Hon. James Carroll a strenuous time on the following day. 4He intimated that either the Maoris would gain their point or the Native Minister .would '. gain his. ; This is how he put it: "We are pleased that Mr. Carroll is remaining ; so will be very good. He will either eat us or we eat him;" / '" - By this time the' proceedings had lasted i fully an hour, which was too long for an old Maori, who interrupted Mahuta " with ; a proposal that the meeting should adjourn. .- . ; V Mahuta lead a vigorous clapping of hands in ; honour of the : visitors, and not to be put: done in courtesy Sir Joseph called " Homai te; puke puke" (clap hands). Again the /Maoris repeated: the compliment, and again the Europeans* responded./ Then; the band \ struck '; up and two • Maoris ; danced ;-; a haka.; 1 After Sir Joseph Ward j and ; ; party had ■ been • i entertained in the large eating-house '• they returned to Huntly./"'' ' "