MAORIS AND THE LAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1523, 28 February 1901, Page 17

MAORIS AND THE LAND.

’.The “Morning Leader/ 5 whose military! correspondent has apologised to Satan', for comparing Lord Kitchener to him, ; devotes an article to Maori politicians, in the course of which it makes some : vague allegations against the New landers in connection with the Maori land question* After describing the sys-/ tem of Maori representation in the Party iiaxnent, the writer says that when poll- ' t-ical parties ar© pretty evenly balanced 0 the Maoris become masters of the situation, and actually hold the balance of power in their hands, and on several occasions the fate of a Government en-, x tirely depended upon the Maori mem-’; hers following them or not into, the lobby , on a no-confidence issne. However, Ala-. ; ori;representation in Parliament .has, noth been a panacea for the settlement of alt., differences between the two races,. ::Nev-. 1 er yet have the Maoris been able to get v the native land question placed'on a basis satisfactory to the aboriginal inhabit-y ants of the colony; Upon'that subject.-' a great deal of dissatisfaction! prevails 3 amongst r the . Maori people, whose sole'" object is to Be allowed to deal .with, theird own possessions in their own way linderU a system of Home Rule., The- Maoris are , quite as determined as the Irish people • with, regard to the land and it is a fallacy to suppose .that they are . content ’ under the land, laws which noWb affect them; Ayy -The Maori mind re/tains the belief -that European eolonisai • tion has not been an umnixed’ blessing,- - although: th© If utility; ofy: resorting .tor force for lAdress'vhfls'Tongo:since been r realised. -The fffifilnient r 'of-the'stipula. r lions of the Treaty' of WaitaUgi, 7 is what I they demand’, and ihe'Mhofis will not be. a contented people Until the; conditions;' under which their bhfefs eededTtho sbv-D ereigiity of New "Zealand to;the -British - Crown ar© epmplieti. .' bey; cause - of; their failure .of,the. f jtfD give effect to theni that sendmg a delegation, to London.'” I,J