A MAORI DEPUTATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14279, 30 July 1908, Page 2

A MAORI DEPUTATION

j FINANCING MAORI FAHMERS. (Per Ukitkd I'ress Associatiox.) \ WELLINGTON, .Inly 28. A deputation of pome 15 Maori chiefs, representing tribes all over the Dominion. waited upon, tho Prime Minister to-day in regard to aid to Maori settlers. Tho Hon. Mr Carroll, introducing the deputation, said the chiefs had remained after the recent, congress hud completed its labours to bring Wore tho Ciorcrninent many mallei's concerning which the confrrcss had reduced its ideas to a definite form. Tho particular matter they desired to speak lo the Prime Minister about on that occasion was finance. He (Mr Carroll) had been interviewed several times in regard to the facilities for reinforcing the Maori endeavour to utilise the Native lands and make them productive. As tho crux of the whole question was finance, he had referred tho deputation lo the Minister of Finance. Mr Ngata, M.r., slated briefly thai, the "object, of the deputation was to ask the , Prime Minister to create a special branch of the Advances to Settlers Department on the lines ,of tho Advances to Workers Department, to bo called the Advances to Maori Settlers' Branch. Failing this, would the Government, earmark a sum of money to be advanced to Maori settlers only? They felt that a.s the result of the financial situation of tho last few months no advances were obtainable from the department over the sum of £500, and these mainly by Europeans. Thoy suggested that a special fund of, say, £500,000 should be created from which the Maori settlers might from time to time draw. M$ Hone Heke, M.P., said that after the visit of tho Native Commission to tho north many Maori families had turned to work to cut bush, and the whole question now was: Could they get the money to help them? Mr Parata, M.P. supported the previous speakers, and asked that anything the Goj vernment did might, apply lo the South I Island Natives as well as to those in the North Island. Sir J. G. Ward, in replying, said the matter brought before him by the deputation was of very great importance to the Maoris, and equally important to the Europeans. As the deputation must be aware, tho Advances to Settlors Act had been altered to enable advances to Maoris as well as to Europeans to be made. Ho assured them that he was very anxious to see the Maoris assisted so far as was reasonable, and for their advantage and good. The question of a separato fund of half a million raised a very important issue, which ho wonkl try to make clear to them. Under the financial powers asked for by the Government this session, an increase of one million (from £5,000,000 to £6,000,000) in tho funds of the Advances to Settlors Department was asked, also an increase in the funds of the Advances to Workers Department from £200,000 to £500,000. In . other words, a total increase of £1,300,000 was asked for. It would not be possible to increaso that sum by another half-million, either for Maoris or anyone else, because the raising of largo sums of money entailed a very heavy responsibility tipon the Government. But, apart altogether from Iho sums Iho Government sought authority to raise, money was being returned' to the department by settlers at the rate o£ £800,000 yearly. When the full amount of £6,000,000 had been advanced, he thought bo would bo well within the mark in saving tho annual return would be £1,000,000. In times when no abnormal demand was mado upon the department that, would be a very largo sum to spend on advances to settlers He felt satisfied that even with tho Maori demands the department would not be asked for £1.000.000 a year. Ho looked forward hopefully to the time when thoy could meet all requirements without ■resorting to tho expedient, to which ho was opposed, of borrowing any moTe money this year. Referring to, the limitation of £500 in tho amount at present advance!! by tho department to any one person, he stated that the limit would soon be removed. Tho ordinary limit, was £3000, but owing to the faot that a number of private lenders had been withholding advances, there had been 3 | larger demand upon Iho department. For that reason it was good policy to limit advances _to £500, so that tho department rould assist a larger number of persons. Even if he were to say a special sum would lie earmarked for tho Maoris, exactly the samo principle of limitation would have to bo applied, and until the present financial tension passed off'.tho limitation must-i continue. In conclusion, lie desired to assure them lie would see that the Maoris were treated fairly oy the Advances to Settlers Department in granting assistance to them according to the necessities of each applicant, as he was anxious to see the Maoris farm their lands in the interests of their families, and also of the country at large. To Mr Parata he desired to sav that his answer applied to the whole Dominion, and not io any part of it in particular.