MAORI GRIEVANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23281, 25 February 1939, Page 15

MAORI GRIEVANCE

TAUPO TIMBEELANDS SUM OF £23,500 INVOLVED APPEAL TO PRIVY COUNCIL [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday The violation of the spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi, allegedly implied in special legislation passed in 1935, compelling the Aotea Maori Land Board to pay £23,500 to the Egmont Box Company, was criticised at a meeting at Taiporohenui representative of all Taranaki tribes. A delegation, comprising Mr. Hoani Te Heuheu, of Tokaanu, Mr. Hemana To Pokiha, of Rotorua, Mr. Raniera Kingi, of Rotorua, and Mr. Pateriki Hura, of Tokaanu, was given united support by all tribes in its intention of seeking a remedy from the Government or of appealing to the Privy Council. The delegation asked for the support of the Taranaki people in its advocacy of full recognition of the Treaty of Waitangi. It was explained by Mr. Pateriki Hura that, although the treaty was the basis for native legislation, it was not in itself incorporated in the laws of New Zealand. "Over and over again legislation has been enacted that contravenes the terms of the treaty," he said. "In the case of the present Ngati-Tuwharetoa claim, legislation compelling the Aotea Land Board to pay to the Egmont Box Company £23,500 strikes against the interests of the native owners, and without their consent is a flagrant contravention of the treaty. It is on this point that the Ngati-Tuwharetoa claim comes under the terms of the treaty, and it is being used as one of the main claims of the appeal to the Privy Council, should there be no remedy forthcoming from the New Zealand Government." Monetary assistance for the cause by a contribution from Taranaki Maori Trust Board's funds was also agreed to by the Taranaki representatives. The case concerns a large area of timber land on the western shore of Lake Taupo. In 1908 the Aotea Maori Land Board entered into an agreement with the Tongariro Timber Company for the sale of timber and the construction of a railway. In 1930 the board cancelled the agreement, which was transferred to the Egmont Box Company. Legislation in 1935 imposed on the board the obligation to secure the sum of £23,500, which was paid by the Government to the box company to build the railway. This oosition was upheld bv the Court of Appeal, which granted conditional leave to appeal to the Privy Council.