MAORIMEETING AT WAAHI

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13896, 7 May 1907, Page 5

MAORIMEETING AT WAAHI

THE TREATY OF WAITANGI. (Per United Press Assocutiok.) AUCKLAND. May 6. At the Maori meeting at Waahi the principal incident of Sunday's proceedings was a spcech by Ifcnare Kailia.il. M.11.1i., who referred to the Treaty of Waitangi, which, he said, had never been broken by the Natives. So far as they were concerned it was still in force, and the only means of getting this recognised by the New Zealand Parliament w to send a petition to the King. When the proceedings were resumed this afternoon Kaihott made further references to the same subject.

(Faou Our Own CoimKsroNDENT.) AUCKLAND, May 4. The Maori Convention at Waahi is getting to business. The following circular ha-s been distributed: " Greeting to all you people, you tribes, you chiefs, and to all of you that survive. Here ain I, walking about and entering into the large houses of your ancestors an'd fathers, and stepping and trampling on tho premises they have left to us. To you who still remt-in here, greetings to you; greeting lo you all. Fix Ihe shoulder straps, shoul'der the burden, raise the burden, bear thy burden; welcome with tho burden on your backs (,he call of (he bird of passage. I now extend invitation to all you chiefs, and all you people from one end of New Zealand to the olhrr; from the tail to the head, that yon may come and bo present at a meeting which will he hold al Waahi. Untill.v, Wtiikato, on the 30th Day of April, 1907, in order to discuss and consider these facts which are written below: (1) The fiufierinns through injustice of the peonlo of th" Tshnds of Aofuaroa and Waipounainu: (2) ihe agreement of (Jiicen Victoria with our ancestors iu Hit Treaty of Waitangi; (3) The Parliament of New Zealand; (4) the Parliament of England; (5) the prestige or rights tniana) of our ancestor; (6) the cause of the decimal ion of the Maori rut*!'. Come, work with all your skili, and with mine, and our object will lr accomplished."

Tho subjecl.s on Ibv n<l:i paper will lie fertile in producing debate. The prevalent. discontent engendered by alleged breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi, and consequently the deprivation of what they consider their ri'-d'.U caused bv tiie leg'slatic.n of the Xew Zealand Government, and ratified by tho Home Government, rankles in the Native miml, and the ventilation of these grievances at, tl;i> great nieetincr will. :'s reading Ijctween the lines indicates, result in the demand for some form of home rule, for Ihe instil nl ion of a Native Parliament with jurirrliction over Native affairs, or in tile loiiistitntion of the Kimr movement, lo effect; which it is presumed a. deputation must needs 1« sent to London to solicit the tfyntpalhy and support of King Edward VII. May 6. _ At tho Native meetimr at Waahi on Saturday morning the first speaker was Kcri Kaiha.u. brother of Ilennre Knihati, M.11.U. Union was the keynote of his brief rynarks. ['■allowing came Henare Kailiau. who said ho could see no nwon why there should be divisions among tlio' Maori people; why their aims and aspirations should lie dissimilar; for tlicy were descended from one common ancestry, possessing similar genealogies, living in the same country, belonging to one race, having the same institutions and customs, and speaking on" language and obeying similar laws. They should unite. Tho question of unity must be decided by the Maori people now. If not, their grievances would nevei be redressed, their rights and privileges never b» regained. If that meeting was true lo itself and to the whole of the Maori people, the desires of tho Maoris would Iw accomplished and their aspirations given effect to. If union we.s decided upon, they would accomplish other objects of importance, and iti doing so wouM have the aid and the support of the Parliament of England. The meeting was conducted in the open air, tho speakers standing near the centre of a largo areiia. tho audience being seated or standing round in the form of a hollow square. Tupu Taingakawa To Waharoa presided, and near him was Mnhuta and other noted chiefs. I'awhiti acted as the chief secretary, and assisting him were numerous clerks.

Opinions of individuals as to the objects of the meeting vary considerably, though nil agree (hat Ik" ire.tfment accorded the Native race is not consonant with justice. They ask. "What has become of our forest rights and our fishing rights. The Government holds pre-emptive rights over our lands. Do we get equivalent value when we sell? We desire power to sell or lease when wo please, and to bo treated like pakehas in nil matters.''