MAORI WOMEN'S PARLIAMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10263, 22 January 1895, Page 3

MAORI WOMEN'S PARLIAMENT.

Napier, January'ET.

A great Maori meeting has been held at Te Hauke, serving the twofold purpose oE mourning over the departed chief Hone Nea Nea and discussing matters of interest to the Maori race. Amongst the questions brought up was equal rights for women. Several of the speakers pointed out that for years the work done by their husbands was no good, and women mußt do something. Under. the Treaty of Waitangi all were treated aHke,,1 hut they had not been so served. Their men bad been following up the root of the grap« vine, and did not know what fruit it would bring forth. While the men bad done nothing for themselves, the bash and root had passed into the hands of the Europeans. They wera going down every day, losing their lands and their mana. All that could be done was to try and form some rules and regulations by which; they might be protected, but it would depend upon their strength and what; they took ifi hand.

The following resolutions were passed :— " That we have nothing farther to do with the Native Land Court; that we cease sellingjlands; that there be no farther renting of lands; that no farther surveys be gone into; that should any man, wom&n^or child break the above regulations they shall be fined whatever the committee think fit; that the parchment which is to be signed by all Natives of both, islands is to be completed within this year, and that the amount paid by each person who signs the parchment is to be £1, according to the rules laid down in 1692, and such amount is to b9 paid this year."