THE DISMISSAL OF NATIVE LAND COURT JUDGES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 9274, 21 April 1891, Page 2

THE DISMISSAL OF NATIVE LAND COURT JUDGES.

A MAORI’S PROTEST.

(?ek ?rxss association.)

Gisborne, April 20.

At a large meeting of Natives held to consider the dismissal of five Native laud Court Judges, Paratere Ngata, au influential chief, said the dismissals were a great blow to the Maoris of all the island. Major Mair and Messrs Puckoy and Wilson were Judges a long time ; they were thorough Maori scholars, and had finished immense numbers of cases. Judge Oleudon wa? abo a Maori scholar, and understood their customs and rights to the land. Previous to their appointment as Judges they did good service to the Colony, and helped to make peace betwon the Europeans and Maoris, including the King tribes of the Waikato. He asked why did the Government dismiss these men and retain recently appointed Judges who do not understand a word of Maori, and do not understand old Maori customs as to their rights to land? No interpreter could pos. sibly translate some of their impressions into English, so that a|aon-speaking Maori Judge could get the meaning of them. The Government wastakingthe light from their eyes and preventing them laying their cases before the Court. The trouble bad come upon them as suddenly as the eruption of Tarawera, The Maoris would object to lay their cases before non-Maori speaking judges. Objection was also taken to the Government fixing the sittings of the Court instead of the Chief Judge, as that would be putting fire into the hands of the Native Minister to burn the balance of their lands. They were anxious to get their lands subdivided, bat would not now be able to do so as long as they Utfed, The dismissal of the Maori speaking judges would cause great trouble to the Natives aud Europeans. Other speakers followed in the same strain. Ultimately it was resolved to petition the Government on the subject.