AN OUTSPOKEN MAORI MEMBER.

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

AN OUTSPOKEN MAORI MEMBER.

Auckland, Januarys. Hone Heke, M.H.R., received an enthn« siastic reception frem the Natives of Orakei on h''s visit to that place this week. In welcoming him in the afternoon the old people expressed satisfaction at receiving such a visit from their; representative, and remarked that it was quite a new departure. In the evening Heka addressed a large and enthusiastic gathering. He told them that the mistake of the past was that their representatives had not educated the Natives up to the politics of the country. He; thought the time had come when they should be made to understand the laws affecting them*; selves and their lands. He showed that tha ( Government had deceived the people by break" ing the pledges of self-reliance and nonrf harrowing made at the last general election* With reference to the claim of the Government! to be a, working man's Government, he conn tended that that also was a fallacy, for the num« her of men who were out of work and almost! starving was as great, if not greatea than was the case two or three years ago.' Hone Heke ridiculed the statements by the Premier and his colleagues when they visited the Maori people that they had a great love fot the Natives, and contended that such stated ments were not borne out by facts. : He in* stanced the Native legislation of last session,1 specially condemning as unjust the provision] that the Crown should be the sole purchaser o£. Native land. He knew of cases in the King; Country where the Government offered tha Native owners 3d an acre for land for which' private individuals were prepared to pay from £1 to 30s. The same thing occurred through* out the island. The effect of such legislation was to place what the Maoris called tapa upon their land. The whole thing was nething else' than legalised robbery. Hone Heke alsoj denounced in the strongest terms the action of-, the Government in connection with the Little Barrier. It was a disgraceful proceeding.' The Government were prejudiced against any, reasonable arguments, but by means of their majority they forced anything they desired through the House. He next dealt with; the trouble connected with the Hotck whenua block, and condemned the attitude; of the Government. He said that the Natives could easily understand that such actions by no means bore ont the Premier's profession o£ love for the Maoris. Other matters were alga dealt with. The Natives present expressed themselves as thoroughly pleased with Hong Heke's action in Parliament, and declared theic confidence in him as their representative. Hone Heke leaves for Helen3ville, where he will address another Native gathering.)