BIG NATIVE DEPUTATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6970, 9 November 1909, Page 6

BIG NATIVE DEPUTATION

WEST COAST RESERVES WANTED BACK. FOR MAORI UTILISATION. Nearly one hundred Taranaki natives interested in the West Coast Native Re-serves interviewed the Hon. James Carroll (Native Minister) yesterday to lay before him some important requests regarding their ancestral lands now leased to the pakoha. The deputation was introduced by Air TV. F. Massey, M.P. The Public Trustee (Mr TV, J. Boynton) who administers tlio reserve on behalf of the native owners, was present. A petition read by Dr Pomarc, and a. speech in Maori by Mr Kauhopuku informed tlio Minister that the natives wished those portions of the reserve between TVaitotara and White Cliffs to bo given back to them. They wished the repeal of the West Coast Settlements Reserves Act, and desired their lands to bo placed under the ordinary Crown grant. Instead of a loving father, run the petition., the Public Trustee by having the power to lease their lands for over; became a tyrant. They prayed that the perpetual 'leases be in some way extinguished, that the leasing of their lands bo not continued, and that provision should ho made for the landless, while the land returned to its owners would, it was stated, bo profitably utilised. SOiMETHING TO Bid DONE.

Tho Minister assured the deputation that tho Government desired to do something for them in tho direction required, and this could bo done in tho consolidation of the Maori land iaivs now in progress. (Applause). He could not bo blajned for any trampling such as had been complained of. ‘'You and 1 have both tramplid on other arrangements,” ho continued. “When the most solemn arrangements woro entered into between representatives of both races in tho first instance somo of each side trampled upon those sacrod obligations. Of course ;t caused no end of argument and raised no end of difficulties, and there was war. A commission was set up, and it (was on tho basis of the recommendations of the commission that tho existing legislation affecting those lands was passed, and the Public Trustee was given his present powers.” The difficulty with tho Crown grants, ho continued, was that after they wero issued war took place and changed the wholo position. On the other hand, if those lands had not been tied up in some such way they would at the present moment bo entirely landless. And so, after all, ho thought they must admit that tho Public Trustee having charge of thoir lands they remained to them at tho present day. Without going into regrets, let them deal with tho existing condition of things, and as fair and rational men. THE POSITION OF AFFAIRS. There were 18,391 acres leased by tho Public Trustee which woro not under perpetual lease, and ho knew that tho active pakclia was urging a renewal tf those, leases. The so-called perpetual lease was for twenty-ono years, with perpetual right of renewal, , and tho pakeha was urging that the 18,000 acres should be brought under the same category. Ho was afraid that they would have to admit with him that the lands under perpetual lease could not ho interfered with. Tho Government was not inclined to place tho 18,000 acres under perpetual lease, hut the pakoha was urging that course, and they must see how they got on. Ho did not know that the Government could promise to hand over tho 18,000 acres, to be dealt with as they liked, because there would be differences as to how it should bo managed- Ho did not think it waa right that tho pakeha should claim right of perpetual renewal. (Applause). If there was any system by which they could get the lands and work them by tho sweat of their brow he was vith them as it would boa, good ‘hing for themselves and for the Bom:nion generally. Ho hoped they would remain united in their endeavours for heir own improvement. He was afraid .Parliament would rise before Christmas, and he could hold out no hope that any amendment of tho West Coast Settlements Reserves Act would be brought down this session. Tho programme had been laid down, and could not be altered. _ Ho would discuss the matter with the Public Trustee, and go thoroughly into tho whole question with him.'

It was no uso endeavouring to interfere with vested interests!, and the earners should confine their endeavours to those areas -which have not already passed out of their hands. Besides the 18.000 acres, the leases of -which are falling in. there was an area of some 127,000 acres, which had not yet passed out of their hands. Ho was quite prepared between now and next session to consider the question of those lands, and to endeavour to formulate a scheme whereby they might he enabled to deal with them.